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Mood:
Touching Captivating Atmospheric Contemplative Thought Provoking
Plot:
Leadership Political Unrest Society Politics Religions or Cults Injustice Righting the Wronged Hopes
Genres:
Drama Period
Time/Period:
20th Century 30s 40s 50s
Place:
Tibet Monastery
Praise:
Award Winner Critically Acclaimed
Style:
Epic
Based on:
Biography Based on True Story
Attitudes:
Serious Realistic Slow

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Kundun, 1997

Starring: Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong, Gyurme Tethong

Directed by: Martin Scorsese

Written by: Melissa Mathison

Language: English, Tibetan, Mandarin

Country: USA

Runtime: 134 min

MPAA Rating:

Rating:7.1

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Profile of Kundun

The mood of Kundun is captivating, touching, and thought provoking. The plot centers around leadership, political unrest, and society. It is a drama and period movie. Stylistically, Kundun is epic. In approach, it is serious and realistic. The pacing is slow. Kundun takes place, at least partly, in a monastery. The setting is Tibet. It happens in the 1930s and in the 1950s. Kundun is drawn from a biography and originally a true story. The movie is known for being an award winner and critically acclaimed.

Summary of Kundun

Martin Scorsese's telling of the life story of the 14th Dalai Lama is a spiritual and deeply moving event. Barely able to walk, the young Tenzin Gyatso (played respectively by Tulku Jamyang Kung Tenzin, Gyurme Tethong, and Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong) is identified as the newly reincarnated form of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Leaving his family behind in order to live in a monastery, he grows to manhood in spiritual isolation, sheltered from the influences of Western worldliness and the dangerous encroachment of the Chinese army, which invaded Tibet in 1950 and forced the Buddhist leaders into exile. Preaching peace and understanding among all people, the Dalai Lama eventually travels to China to meet Chairman Mao Tse Tung, to no avail. In a heartbreaking decision, the Dalai Lama must choose whether to remain in Tibet and fight for his people or flee his homeland and avert almost certain death.

Scorsese's obvious affection and dedication to the Tibetan leader shines through in every frame of the picture, which features stellar performances by its mostly nonprofessional cast. Adding infinite depth to the story are Roger Deakins's cinematography and Philip Glass's score, which earned both men Oscar nominations. Politics and religion aside, Kundun is filmmaking at its most profound and beautiful.