Kundun – Classic Film Review 700

Master director Martin Scorsese delivers a glorious looking, exquisitely crafted biography of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual and political leader. The story runs from 1937 when he was a two-year-old boy through the horrific Chinese invasion of Tibet to his journey to exile in India.

It was brave in 1997 to make such serious movie with politics, religion, history and warfare and not a gangster, dinosaur nor movie star in sight. But the package is enticingly gift-wrapped with such gorgeous ornaments as Philip Glass’s score, Roger Deakins’s cinematography, Dante Ferretti’s art direction and costume designs, and Francesca Lo Schiavo’s set decoration, all Oscar-nominated.

One of the last century’s most important stories, it is urgently and movingly told by screenwriter Melissa Mathison and honourable director Scorsese. Four Oscar nominations, but alas no wins.

The Tibetans refer to the Dalai Lama as ‘Kundun’, which means ‘The Presence’.

(C) Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Film Review 700 derekwinnert.com