Kundun (1997)
Biography | Drama
The True Story Of A Man Whose Struggle Would Lead A Nation.
Kundun brings to life the true story of Tenzin, the spiritual and political leader of his people. Kundun is the story of the Dalai Lama and his daring non-violent struggle to lead his people toward change. Directed by 3-time Academy Award nominee,
Martin Scorcese.
Storyline: The Tibetans refer to the Dalai Lama as 'Kundun', which means 'The Presence'. He was forced to escape from his native home, Tibet, when communist China invaded and enforced an oppressive regime upon the peaceful nation
of Tibet. The Dalai Lama escaped to India in 1959 and has been living in exile in Dharamsala ever since. Written by Deki
User Comment: joelally (ilikesoad@prodigy.net) from nashua, nh - usa, 5 March 2001 • I rented Kundun to further my quest to see all the Scorsese movies I can. I never expected such an incredible movie. I didn't want this movie to
end. It's really difficult to describe how I feel about this movie since I have only viewed it once and was completely blown away, it left me in complete awe.
Like most when I first started watching Scorsese I thought that he did brilliant gangster films and that was his thing, but I have recently discovered that this couldn't be further from the truth. Fist seeing The Last Temptation of Christ and now Kundun I
wouldn't care if Scorsese ever made another gangster film. It is easy to see that he is an artistic genius, the acting in the film was great, but I could have watched it on mute and still have been amazed.
If, like I was, you are unfamiliar with the Buddhist religion and the Chinese takeover of Tibet this film has even more to offer. Scorsese's risk of using real Buddhists to do all of the acting payed off better than I ever expected it would, the fact that
we are hearing the story through the people it affected adds another level to this movie.
I cannot believe that this film only has a rating of 7 on this site. If you are a fan of Scorsese and are not sure you are going to like this just give it a chance, it deserves at least one viewing, if you give it that I am sure you will be amazed as I
was. Scorsese's vision's in this movie are unlike any of his films, not to mention a great score by Phillip Glass.
Summary: incredibly beautiful movie
User Comment: joelally (ilikesoad@prodigy.net) from nashua, nh - usa, 5 March 2001 • I rented Kundun to further my quest to see all the Scorsese movies I can. I never expected such an incredible movie. I didn't want this movie to
end. It's really difficult to describe how I feel about this movie since I have only viewed it once and was completely blown away, it left me in complete awe.
Like most when I first started watching Scorsese I thought that he did brilliant gangster films and that was his thing, but I have recently discovered that this couldn't be further from the truth. Fist seeing The Last Temptation of Christ and now Kundun I
wouldn't care if Scorsese ever made another gangster film. It is easy to see that he is an artistic genius, the acting in the film was great, but I could have watched it on mute and still have been amazed.
If, like I was, you are unfamiliar with the Buddhist religion and the Chinese takeover of Tibet this film has even more to offer. Scorsese's risk of using real Buddhists to do all of the acting payed off better than I ever expected it would, the fact that
we are hearing the story through the people it affected adds another level to this movie.
I cannot believe that this film only has a rating of 7 on this site. If you are a fan of Scorsese and are not sure you are going to like this just give it a chance, it deserves at least one viewing, if you give it that I am sure you will be amazed as I
was. Scorsese's vision's in this movie are unlike any of his films, not to mention a great score by Phillip Glass.
Summary: incredibly busaeautiful movie.
User Comment: David (davidals@msn.com) from Chapel Hill, NC, USA, 16 September 2003 • I was rendered speechless by 'Kundun' when I first saw it, and subsequent viewing have only confirmed my impression that this is one of
Scorsese's finest films. Yeah - it's slow and elegant. So what.
I've long held an admittedly superficial interest in Buddhism, and also been a fan of Scorsese, liking most of his films quite a bit, so I went into this with some biases, but with every viewing this seems like a richer film. I also think that Scorsese
was in some ways far more at home with this material than he was given credit for being. The cinematography and performances are excellent - the cast of mostly non-actors is surprisingly good, and much of 'Kundun' is staggeringly beautiful to watch.
It has also struck me that this film isn't as much of a departure for Scorsese as it first may seem - 'Kundun' - among other things works well as something of a companion to 'Last Temptation Of Christ' in that both pictures examine great faiths through
spiritual figures in a way that personalizes the divine. This simply literalizes undercurrents running through a number of Scorsese's other films, which often turn on themes of loyalty, conviction and ethics (like the self-assurance, against massive
obstacles, shown by Alice Hyatt in 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore'). All evidence a worldview where some form of redemption or transcendance is possible. In their own ways, several memorable Scorsese characters - Sam Rothstein ('Casino'), Henry
Hill('GoodFellas'), Rupert Pupkin('King Of Comedy'), Paul Hackett ('After Hours') and Alice Hyatt attempt this, some in ways that are desperate, comically misguided or just plain wrong, but they're all human, driven towards some sort of redemption
nonetheless.
The Catholicism of Scorsese's youth places great value on the importance of ritual, which is also true of Buddhism, which is depicted in a detailed and respectful fashion in 'Kundun,' and the rhythm of 'Kundun' - where the chronology of events isn't (or
at least doesn't seem) forced, but are instead allowed to unfold in a more naturalistic and lifelike fashion also seems to mirror Buddhist ideas admirably.
This is a far more complex film than it first might appear to be - far from being a simple biopic, 'Kundun' is much much more. Definitely one of Martin Scorsese's finest films.
Summary: Scorsese's most underappreciated film?
Editor's Note: Amazon.com essential video It would be a mistake to call Kundun a disappointment, or a film that director Martin Scorsese was not equipped to create. Both statements may be true to some viewers, but they ignore the
higher purpose of Scorsese's artistic intention and take away from a film that is by any definition unique. In chronicling the life of the 14th Dalai Lama, Kundun defies conventional narrative in favor of an episodic approach, presenting a sequential flow
of events from the life of the young leader of Buddhist Tibet. From the moment he is recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama in 1937 to his exile from Tibet in the wake of China's invasion, the Dalai Lama is seen as an enlightened spiritual
figurehead. This gives the film its tone of serenity and reverence but denies us the privilege of admiring the Dalai Lama as a fascinating human character. There's a sense of mild detachment between the film and its audience, but its visual richness
offers ample compensation. In close collaboration with cinematographer Roger Deakins, Scorsese filmed Kundun with great pageantry and ritual, and meticulous attention to details of costume, color, and the casting of actual Buddhist monks in the scenes at
the Dalai Lama's palace. Certain images will linger in the memory for a long time, such as the Dalai Lama's nightmarish vision of standing among hundreds of dead monks, their lives sacrificed in pacifist defiance of Chinese aggression. Is this a film
you'll want to watch repeatedly? Perhaps not. But as a political drama and an elegant gesture of devotion, Kundun is a film of great value and inspirational beauty--one, after all, that perhaps only Scorsese could have made. --Jeff Shannon
--- JOYA ---
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