Kundun
by Martin Scorsese
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Actor: Gyurme Tethong, Tencho Gyalpo, Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong, Tenzin Yeshi Paichang, Tulku Jamyang Kunga TenzinDirector: Martin Scorsese
Brand: YESHI,TENZIN
Producer: Barbara De Fina
Producer: Jeanne Stack
Producer: Laura Fattori
Producer: Melissa Mathison
Writer: Melissa Mathison
Producer: Perry Santos
Producer: Scott Harris
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: 134 minutes
DVD Release Date: 1998-10-14
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Walt Disney Video
DVD Reviews of Kundun
DVD Review: brand new, perfect condition,
Summary: 5 Stars
This DVD was delivered two days earlier than originally estimated. It arrived in perfect condition.DVD Review: Great film
Summary: 5 Stars
this movie should have won the award for best picture-it is the story of the early years of the most enlightened person on the planet today -it is an amazing film that was filmed beautifully-this should have been the film for scorsese's best picture-maybe the subject matter was too foreign for some -DVD Review: Scorsese's look at the birth of the Dalai Lama
Summary: 4 Stars
Kudos to director Martin Scorsese's story of the birth of the Dalai Lama. Although this is not what one would call a mass audience picture, anyone who is interested in Eastern culture or in the meditative arts will derive much from this film. Compared to the slick, Hollywoodish, "Seven Years in Tibet" with Brad Pitt in the lead, I found this film to be more enlightening but the other film has its own virtues too--perhaps a way of introducing just what Tibetian culture is all about thru the eyes of a European. Nevertheless, both films are recommended for students interested in spirituality. DVD 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.
DVD Review: Kundun
Summary: 3 Stars
The sons of Genghis Khan gave the Dahlia Lama his name, which means "ocean of wisdom". In Asia the Tibetans practiced non-violence for over one thousand years. The Dahlia Lama was their ruler; his was the human manifestation of the Buddha of compassion. In 1933 the thirteenth Dahlia Lama died. Four years later a holy man, found himself in a far corner of Tibet, he was searching for the fourteenth Dahlia Lama. A Buddha had been reborn. The beginning of the story goes like this.... The mother was talking to her son saying, "Your father had been sick and we thought he would die, some cows, horses, a yak, and chickens had died." She said that all the farmers had bad crops for four years. She told her son, "One night I knew you were coming and at dawn you were born and you did not cry. Your father got better and named you Lhamo, the protector." Lhamo loved to hear the story of his birth.
Tibetan men came into the village and Lhamo seemed to had sensed something. One of the Tibetan men bent down to talk to Lhamo and Lhamo saw that the man was wearing his necklace. Lhamo then told the man that the necklace he was wearing was his. The man said, "If you can tell me my name, I will give you the necklace." Lhamo told the name man that his name was Lama and he was correct. Lama did not stay long but when he left Lhamo started to cry. The same man returned that night and the mother got Lhamo out of bed, took him into the room where Lama was. There was man items lying on a table and Lama asked Lhamo, "What else belongs to you?" Lhamo picked up a drum, a bell, a stick, a bowl, a pair of glasses, and finally a cain. He was able to pick out all of the items that belonged to the thirteenth Dahlia Lama. Lama then called the little boy "Kundun". Kundun was recognized from this point on to be the fourteenth Dahlia Lama. He was taken to a monastery where he was given a regent which is a monk teacher. The teacher told him that, "To this life you will be born again and again as long as all life continues. Love, care and have compassion for all living things. The Buddha shall appear." Kundun was dressed in gold from head to toe. All the Tibetan people were present; he was then introduced as the "Buddha of compassion", "the wishful fulfilling jewel", "the fourteenth Dahlia Lama". Kundun was continually being taught about the three jewels and the importance of the Four Noble Truths but it seemed that he already had wisdom beyond his years.
By the time he became about seventeen or eighteen years old the Chinese were getting ready to invade Tibet. As a leader he was uncertain about his ability to save the people. Lord Chamberlain told Kundun that he needs the warning of predecessor or the war will end here. Kundun was then given a letter and told that it was written when the thirteenth Dahlia Lama was eighteen years old. The letter said that he had to lead spiritually and be the secular head of the country, and that the Chinese invaded. He said, "The power of truth was great, we prayed and the Karma is infallible, we routed the Chinese out." Then the monk that read Kundun the letter told him, "You are the man that wrote this letter, you must lead us." Kundun had decided to write President Truman of the United States a letter, asking if they would come to the aid of Tibet. He never received any true confirmation. During all of this Kundun lost his friend and teacher, Regent Reting. They held a ritual for Regent Reting and over his body they said, "Do not be distracted as you enter into the coming of the awareness, go to your father, he is dead."
China had three demands of Tibet which was Tibet must except that it is part of China, Tibet's defenses must be conducted by China, and that all political and trade matters concerning foreign countries must be conducted through China. Kundun said, "We accept no conditions from China. I will consult our protective deities; Lord Buddha appears where he is needed." China invaded by crossing into six locations of Tibet. Kundun heard on the radio that Tibet agreed to China's conditions. The Tibetan people found themselves living in a feudal kingdom under the tyranny of the Dahlia Lama.
Kundun became of age and celebrated the auspicious day for his enthronement. At that time Kundun told the monks to free the prisoners. He said, "The gods will win." Kundun then left for the Indian border. The monks pleaded for him not to go. He went there first to gather with his people. Here he heard over the Chinese radio that today the surrender of Tibet was complete. The people Republic of Tibet signed a seventeen point agreement that returned Tibet to the motherland. The Dahlia Lama Representative signed the agreement in his name. Kundun went to China to talk with Chairman Mao. Chairman Mao told Kundun that religion is poison and that it retards the minds of the people. Kundun returned home because he knew there was nothing he could do. China began bombing the monasteries and killing the monks. Kundun had a dream of standing in the middle of thousands of dead monks and after that he said that wisdom and compassion will set us free. He said, "You cannot liberate us, you can only liberate one's self." "Beings are released by the teachings of the truth." For Kundun's safety he was told to go to India. He has not yet returned....
Relating this movie back to the practice of Buddhism, it is known that Buddhists are non-violent as it relates to any living creature. One's life reflects back to your deeds that you do each and every day, known as karma. The movie depicts what monks look like and the culture in which most of them live. They also perform certain rituals in the movie that look somewhat like what is in the book. It truly depicts one's desire to be of good nature, all of the ones in the movie where good to each other and extremely respectful.
Description of Kundun
Praised as one of the best films of the year, KUNDUN is a motion picture masterpiece directed by five-time Academy Award(R)-nominated director Martin Scorsese. It's the incredible true story of one of the world's most fascinating leaders -- Tibet's Dali Lama and his daring struggle to rule a nation at one of the most challenging times in its history. Powerfully told and set against a backdrop of world politics -- the film's release created an international uproar! Featuring a striking Oscar(R)-nominated score by renowned composer Philip Glass, this extraordinary motion picture has been greeted with both controversy and worldwide acclaim -- experience it for yourself!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
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