Kundun
by Martin Scorsese
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Gyurme Tethong, Tencho Gyalpo, Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong, Tenzin Yeshi Paichang, Tulku Jamyang Kunga TenzinDirector: Martin Scorsese
Brand: YESHI,TENZIN
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Letterboxed, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: Letterbox, 2.35:1
Running Time: 135 minutes
DVD Release Date: 1998-10-14
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Movie Reviews of Kundun
Movie Review: Kundun Review
Summary: 3 Stars
The movie Kundun, originally released in 1997, seeks to convey the life story of the Dalai Lama, the spiritual and secular leader of Tibet. Beginning with his selection to be the next Lama at the age of two, the movie follows his life as he embarks on the noble path that has been set before him. Unfortunately, although the film is well made and visually stimulating, Kundun fails to be widely appealing due to its focus on Buddhist ritual, and its solemn, often somber, tone.
Kundun, which means presence, is the name by which the fourteenth Dalai Lama is known. In 1937, he was identified as being the reincarnation of the thirteenth Lama. He was sent to a large monastery where he was raised and trained in Buddhist teaching and meditation techniques. As he ages, he begins to follow and take interest in world events, specifically World War II and the impending threat the Chinese pose to his country and people.
In 1950 China invaded Tibet, setting into motion a series of events that would dramatically influence the now fifteen year old Kundun's life. Initially, he tried to peacefully co-exist with the occupiers, even agreeing to a Seventeen Point Agreement laid out by the Chinese. This agreement would ultimately break down in 1959 however, due to the unwillingness of the Chinese to abide by the conditions. A Tibetan uprising resulted but was defeated and the Dalai Lama was forced to flee to India to escape, setting up a government in exile in Dharamsala, India.
To its credit, Kundun is visually breathtaking. The exotic scenery and colorful dressings provide multiple layers of sensory input. Coupled with a chilling musical score from Philip Glass and remarkable cinematography, the result is epic. The direction - contributed by legend Martin Scorsese - is skillful, providing the overall vision throughout the movie that holds everything together during the chronological advance.
Regrettably however, Kundun spends too much of its time preoccupied with Buddhist rituals. The pacing of the story is interrupted time and again with long scenes of intense ritualistic practices. There is a ritual for Kundun's enthronement, one for his welcoming, assorted scenes of chanting and drumming, and on and on; too many for the average person. While this may add a certain level of realism to the story, it diminishes its appeal to a wider audience, aiming squarely at adherents only. Additionally, the overall tone of the film seems needlessly gloomy and heavy. Coupled with the protracted scenes of ritual, and the potential market for this movie has been seriously reduced; as evidenced by its poor showing at the box office.
As with any historical piece, a balance must be struck between accuracy and entertainment. While Kundun does an excellent job with the accuracy part, it stumbles slightly in providing entertainment for mass consumption.
Summary of Kundun
Martin scorceses visually stunning epic tells the incredible story of tibets dalai lama. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 05/06/2003 Starring: Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong Run time: 135 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Martin ScorseseIt 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
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