Kundun (1997): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Kundun is a 1997 biographical drama directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong and Gyurme Tethong. It runs 2 hours 14 minutes and earned $5.7 million worldwide on a $28 million budget. It was nominated for 4 Oscars. Critics gave it 74% on Rotten Tomatoes and 74 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 14m (134 min)
- Director
- Martin Scorsese
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Buena Vista Pictures
- Budget
- $28M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Kundun About?
The premise of Kundun without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A young Tibetan boy is recognized as the 14th Dalai Lama, the reincarnation of the Buddha of Compassion. The film chronicles his early years, under the guidance of spiritual advisors and family, as he embraces his destiny and prepares to lead his people. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the story follows his journey through childhood and adolescence, culminating in the Chinese invasion of Tibet and his subsequent exile, offering a moving portrayal of a spiritual leader’s extraordinary life.
Kundun Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- dalai lama
- buddha
- buddhism
- slaughter
- teenage boy
- mao tse tung
- buddhist
- based on true story
- reference to harry s. truman
- courage
- shoe
- begins with text
+38 more Show fewer
- 1930s
- 1940s
- 1950s
- animal horn
- light bulb
- snake
- peacock
- elephant
- cobra
- horse
- lama
- india
- reincarnation
- monk
- government
- exile
- escape
- dharamsala
- watching a movie
- horseback riding
- chamberlain
- one word title
- hiroshima japan
- wisdom
- waterfall
- united nations
- telescope
- teeth
- surrender
- suffering
- subjective camera
- stop motion scene
- spirituality
- song
- soldier
- socialism
- slow motion scene
- sino tibetan conflict
Kundun Cast
Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong leads the cast, with Gyurme Tethong. Directed by Martin Scorsese.
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Director Martin Scorsese
More from Martin Scorsese
More films directed by Martin Scorsese, best-rated first: Goodfellas, The Irishman, Mean Streets and Raging Bull.
Kundun Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Kundun 74% on Rotten Tomatoes and 74 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10.
-
IMDb 7.0 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 74% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 78%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 74 Metascore
User score 7.3
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 68% User score
See on TMDB
Kundun Plot Summary
What happens in Kundun from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The film unfolds in a linear timeline, spanning the years 1937 to 1959, primarily set in Tibet with brief scenes in China and India. The story begins with the quest for the 14th mindstream emanation of the Dalai Lama. Following a vision by Reting Rinpoche, the regent of Tibet, a group of lamas, disguised as servants, discovers a promising young boy born into a farming family in Amdo, near the Chinese border.
To determine if this child is indeed the chosen one, the lamas conduct a test where he must identify objects that belonged to the previous Dalai Lama. The child successfully passes this challenging test and is subsequently taken to Potala Palace in Lhasa, where he is destined to be installed as the Dalai Lama upon reaching adulthood.
Full summary
The whole story of Kundun, scene by scene
Kundun Box Office & Budget
Kundun grossed $5.7 million worldwide on a $28 million budget, 20% of what it cost.
Worldwide gross
$5.7M
20% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $5.7M
- Budget
- $28M
Kundun Awards & Nominations
Kundun was nominated for 4 Oscars. The 5 nominations come from 2 ceremonies, the most at the Oscars 1998.
5 nominations2 ceremonies
-
Oscars 1998 4 nominations- Nominated Art Direction
- Nominated Cinematography
- Nominated Costume Design
- Nominated Music (Original Dramatic Score)
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Golden Globes 1998 1 nomination- Nominated Best Original Score
Kundun Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Kundun.
How Well Do You Know Kundun?
9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 9
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
What year does the narrative of 'Kundun' begin?
Cars in Kundun
4 cars on screen, including the 1947 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 and the 1929 Dodge Brothers De Luxe Sedan.
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1947 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 Minor role -
1929 Dodge Brothers De Luxe Sedan Minor role -
1956 Willys Jeep Utility Wagon Minor role -
AM General M-35 Background role
Kundun Also Known As
9 alternative titles, including “达赖的一生” and “活佛傳”.
- Also known as
-
- 达赖的一生
- 活佛傳
- 達賴的一生
- Кундун
- קאנדאן
- Kundun - życie Dalaj Lamy
- 쿤둔
- クンドゥン
- คุนดุน
Seen Kundun?
Movies Like Kundun
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Unmistaken Child, Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion and The Last Dalai Lama?.
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Unmistaken Child 2009 -
Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion 2003 -
The Last Dalai Lama? 2017 -
The Dalai Lama: Scientist 2019 -
Milarepa 2007 -
My Reincarnation 2011 -
Seven Years in Tibet 1997 -
Becoming Who I Was 2018 -
10 Questions for the Dalai Lama 2006 -
Milarepa 1974 -
Buddha Wild: Monk in a Hut 2006 -
The Sun Behind the Clouds: Tibet's Struggle for Freedom 2010
Kundun FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Kundun, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Kundun?
Kundun runs 2 hours 14 minutes (134 minutes).
When was Kundun released?
Kundun was released on December 25, 1997.
Who directed Kundun?
Kundun was directed by Martin Scorsese.
More films by Martin Scorsese Who is in the cast of Kundun?
Kundun stars Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong and Gyurme Tethong.
How much did Kundun make at the box office?
Kundun grossed $5.7 million worldwide on a budget of $28 million.
How is Kundun rated?
Kundun has 7.0/10 on IMDb, 74% on Rotten Tomatoes, 74 on Metacritic and 68% on TMDB.
Was Kundun nominated for any awards?
Kundun received 5 nominations across 2 ceremonies.
Does Kundun have a post-credit scene?
No. Kundun has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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