Stats:

Movie:
KunDun

Stars:
Cast of unknowns

Director:
Martin Scorsese

Date: 1998

Bottom Line:
Excellent drama. Worthwile rental.

KunDun

So you say you just can't get enough of seeing the life of the Fourteenth (and current) Dalai Lama on film this year? Here is Martin Scorsese's version. Not a suprise that a film by Scorsese would be a great film but what is suprising is the lack of violence filmed by him for this version. By contrast, "Seven Years In Tibet" was far more violent while covering roughly half the period that "KunDun" does.

This is clearly the superior version I've seen. The photography is lush, the acting is excellent. The entire cast is made up of unknown actors. "KunDun" begins with his future regent's search to find the reincarnated spirit of the thirteenth Dalai Lama throughout the entire country of Tibet in 1937. KunDun is found and it is explained that this name means 'Great Wisdom'. This is the name the sons of Genghis Khan bestowed upon the first Dalai Lama and how he is addressed by the monks who serve him.

We watch KunDun grow up and change from a precoscious, self-centered child to a wise and sensitive young adult. The Austrian climber from "Seven Years In Tibet" is absent from this version. Although, I thought the fall of Tibet was better handled in that version. There was a lot more information given the audience about what actually happened. In "KunDun", the Chinese invasion and takeover seems too peaceful and remote. "KunDun" goes a little further in history and we see KunDun attempt to work with Mao Tse Tung after the takeover. We also learn that the Chinese attempted to get KunDun's own family to betray and murder him. At last, KunDun must flee to India because the Chinese are getting bolder and bolder in their campaign to murder him. The film ends when KunDun reaches the Indian border.

When this film was released, the theatres sold out. This is a film that would be more appreciated by adults; I haven't met too many 8-year olds who are dying to find out everything they can about Buddhism and the Dalai Lama. There is no nudity or bad language and minimal violence; definitely nothing to hold the attention span of the average 15-year old male movie goer.

I highly recommend this film. It did not do well at the Oscars when it was released which I think was probably a suprise for most who were associated with this film; but it is a very lush movie and definitely worth seeing.