Kundun (1997)

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Kundun (1997) – M. Scorsese

Here we have a biopic of the early life of the current (14^th) Dalai Lama – from his selection as the reincarnation of the 13^th when only a child to his upbringing by Regents (with his own previously poor family given a privileged place) and spiritual training to his growing awareness of politics and the threat of the newly communist Chinese (who subsequently invaded).  Although the film tends to drag in some of the early phases (with the D. L. played sequentially by four different non-professional Tibetan actors, some related to the 14^th himself), it picks up momentum as it progresses, aided by Philip Glass’s score, until I ceased to notice time passing (a good thing).  Of course, the fact that the actors were made to speak English (undoubtedly a concession to the American audience) is annoying, but in other respects Scorsese acquits himself admirably. Indeed, he manages to create a sort of spiritually aware state with intercut images from dreams or visions and, importantly, calls attention to the ongoing plight of the Tibetans. In fact, this Dalai Lama is still in exile in India, hoping to return to Lhasa. Moreover, the film looks beautiful, as photographed by Roger Deakins.  Don’t confuse this with that Brad Pitt film (as I seem to have done in waiting so long to view it).