Menu

Discover

Genres

Appearance

  • light/dark mode
powered by
moviedb

Kundun

"The destiny of a people lies in the heart of a boy."

1997-12-25 Drama 2hr 14m

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. The Dalai Lama escaped to India in 1959 and has been living in exile in Dharamsala ever since.

More
Trailer
close
Kundun

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. The Dalai Lama escaped to India in 1959 and has been living in exile in Dharamsala ever since.

  • Released
    1997-12-25
  • Revenue
    $5,684,789
  • Budget
    $28,000,000
  • Runtime
    2hr 14m
  • Genre
    Drama, History
  • Status
    Released
  • Language
    English, 普通话
  • imdb-logo
    7
  • Production
    Touchstone Pictures, Dune Films, De Fina-Cappa, StudioCanal, AMLF, Cappa/De Fina Productions, Cappa Productions

Crew

Martin Scorsese
Director
Melissa Mathison
Screenplay
Barbara De Fina
Producer
Keywords:
china buddhism buddhist monk mountain tibet dalai lama lhasa buddha

Stream and watch Kundun

similar movies

The Road Home

The Road Home

Red Cliff

Red Cliff

A Perfect Day

A Perfect Day

Verso L'Ignoto

Verso L'Ignoto

Red Corner

Red Corner

The Protector

The Protector

Caligula

Caligula

Nico Valsesia - From zero to Aconcagua (Mas Alto Que Los Condores)

Nico Valsesia - From zero to Aconcagua (Mas Alto Que Los Condores)

Coconut Connection

Coconut Connection

For the Coyotes

For the Coyotes

Taiwan - Angst vor der Invasion

Taiwan - Angst vor der Invasion

Blessings of the Land

Blessings of the Land

The Sand Pebbles

The Sand Pebbles

John Rabe

John Rabe

Amen.

Amen.

Drive Me Home

Drive Me Home

Papilio Buddha

Papilio Buddha

Die Geierwally

Die Geierwally

Die Geierwally

Die Geierwally

Wally of the Vultures

Wally of the Vultures

Cast

Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong

Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong
Dalai Lama (Adult)
Tencho Gyalpo

Tencho Gyalpo
Mother
Tsewang Migyur Khangsar

Tsewang Migyur Khangsar
Father
Gyurme Tethong

Gyurme Tethong
Dalai Lama (Age 12)
Robert Lin

Robert Lin
Chairman Mao
Tulku Jamyang Kunga Tenzin

Tulku Jamyang Kunga Tenzin
Dalai Lama (Age 5)
Tenzin Yeshi Paichang

Tenzin Yeshi Paichang
Dalai Lama (Aged 2)
Tenzin Topjar

Tenzin Topjar
Lobsang (5-10)
Tenzin Lodoe

Tenzin Lodoe
Takster
Geshi Yeshi Gyatso

Geshi Yeshi Gyatso
Lama of Sera
Losang Gyatso

Losang Gyatso
The messenger
Sonam Phuntsok

Sonam Phuntsok
Reting Rinpoche
Gyatso Lukhang

Gyatso Lukhang
Lord Chamberlain
Lobsang Samten

Lobsang Samten
Master of the Kitchen
Jigme Tsarong

Jigme Tsarong
Taktra Rimpoche
Tenzin Trinley

Tenzin Trinley
Ling Rimpoche
Namgay Dorjee

Namgay Dorjee
Kashag/Nobleman #1
Phintso Thonden

Phintso Thonden
Kashag/Nobleman #2
Chewang Tsering Ngokhang

Chewang Tsering Ngokhang
Layman #1
Jamyang Tenzin

Jamyang Tenzin
Norbu Thundrup
Tashi Dhondup

Tashi Dhondup
Lobsang (Adult)
Jampa Lungtok

Jampa Lungtok
Nechung Oracle
Karma Wangchuk

Karma Wangchuk
Deformed Face Bodyguard
Kim Chan

Kim Chan
Second Chinese General
Henry Yuk

Henry Yuk
General Tan
Ngawang Kaldan

Ngawang Kaldan
Prime Minister Lobsang Tashi
Jurme Wangda

Jurme Wangda
Prime Minister Lukhangwa
Salden Kunga

Salden Kunga
Tibetan Doctor
John Wong

John Wong
Chinese Comrade
Gawa Youngdung

Gawa Youngdung
Old Woman
Tenzin Rampa

Tenzin Rampa
Tenzin Chonegyl (Age 12)
Vyas Ananthakrishnan

Vyas Ananthakrishnan
Indian Soldier
Stanley Ipkiss

Stanley Ipkiss
Ken Leung

Ken Leung
(voice)
Yoon C. Joyce

Yoon C. Joyce
Chinese soldier (uncredited)
R. Gern Trowbridge

R. Gern Trowbridge
Monk (uncredited)
Ben Wang

Ben Wang
General Chang Ching-Wu (uncredited)

Videos and Photos

video-bd
Kundun
Kundun
Kundun
Kundun
Kundun
Kundun
Kundun

Movie Reviews

Reviews for Kundun
reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 7

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2022-09-06

If anyone were ever to question the undoubted skill of cinematographer Roger Deakins, then they need only watch this beautifully crafted sto... read more

If anyone were ever to question the undoubted skill of cinematographer Roger Deakins, then they need only watch this beautifully crafted story of the youth of the 14th Dalai Lama. Filmed in the Moroccan Atlas mountains, for obvious reasons, Martin Scorsese provides us with a lavish, colourful and thought-provoking postulation on just how this young man was selected, after a four year search, to become the venerated spiritual leader of a peaceful nation of farmers and monks, buried deep in the Himalaya mountains. The boy was but two, but already there was a fear amongst these folks for whom time has largely stood still, that their neighbour has designs on their homeland. As the boy ages into youth, those threats manifest themselves more practically and by the end, the man has little choice but to embark on a perilous journey to safety in India. The actors are perfect for their roles - the three iterations of the principal character morph seamlessly together as he must learn to tread a very thin line and attain the level of political acuity necessary to deal with the disarming, but ruthless, Chairman Mao (Robert Lin). Philip Glass scores well too - grand and intimate orchestrations complimenting well the beautifully coloured costumes and the rising political temperature. It does take it's time, but it is a subtly delivered hypothesis, this. It suggests more than it imposes on history and that makes for a more complete film to enjoy. Sure it has a message, quite a few as it happens, but they are there for us to develop ourselves - Scorsese doesn't tell us what to think. He invites us. Deakins was nominated for an Oscar for this, and to appreciate that fully then do try to see it on a big screen. In any case, it's well worth a watch offering plenty of food for thought.

Read Full Review (The thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely those of the reviewer.)
A Review by CinemaSerf

If anyone were ever to question the undoubted skill of cinematographer Roger Deakins, then they need only watch this beautifully crafted story of the youth of the 14th Dalai Lama. Filmed in the Moroccan Atlas mountains, for obvious reasons,...

reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 7

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2022-09-06

If anyone were ever to question the undoubted skill of cinematographer Roger Deakins, then they need only watch this beautifully crafted story of the youth of the 14th Dalai Lama. Filmed in the Morocc...

read more