Today’s movie is a biography with a scene that happens on
March 31. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight
KUNDUN
In 1937, a group of monks, headed
by Reting Rinpoche, the Regent of Tibet,
disguised as traders discover that Lhamo Dondrub is the re-incarnation
of the 13th Dalai Lama and, thus the 14th Dalai Lama
because he recognizes the possessions of the deceased Dalai Lama. Two years later he is taken to the capital,
Lhasa. He receives a temporal and religious education. Later Reting Rinpoche
who had been primarily in charge of the Dalai Lama’s education, is overthrown and replaced. He later dies in
prison. Soon thereafter the Dalai Lama’s father dies. China, now ruled by the communists, begins making demands on
Tibet that it accept that it is part of China and that China conduct Tibet’s
defense, trade and foreign affairs.
When these demands are rejected, China invades. He is formally enthroned
as the Dalai Lama. He takes control of the government and tries to get foreign
aid and end the feudal system. He moves the government to a monastery near the
border with India. Tibetan representatives to China sign an agreement agreeing
to Chinese rule without any authority or knowledge on the part of the Dalai
Lama. The Chinese want him to ratify the agreement. He decides to return to
Lhasa. He later travels to China, where he meets with Mao Zedong. The Dalai
Lama returns to Tibet. Tibetans start to resist Chinese oppression, and are
brutally crushed. Then he is invited to attend a religious dance ceremony at a
Chinese army base alone. After much soul-searching the Dalai Lama decides he
must go into exile and sneaks out of Lhasa. On March 31, 1959 [2:04:20 to
2:06:38] the Dalai Lama crosses the border from Tibet into India.
An unusual biography. Beautiful
cinematography. Another good one by Scorsese.
The Dalai Lama by Louis G. Perez (Rourke
Publications, Inc., Vero Beach, FL, 1993) at page 70 gives the date he crossed
the border.
Awards – This movie was nominated for the Best
Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design and Best Original Score
Oscars at the 70th Academy Awards.
Producer - Barbara De Fina Director - Martin
Scorsese
Screenplay - Melissa
Mathison Runtime – 2 hours 14
minutes
Released – December 25, 1997
Starring –
Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong as Dalai Lama (Adult)
Gyurme Tethong as
Dalai Lama (Age 12)
Tulku Jamyang
Kunga Tenzin as Dalai Lama (Age 5)
Tenzin Yeshi
Paichang as Dalai Lama (Age 2)
Tencho Gyalpo as
Dalai Lama's mother
Tenzin Topjar as
Lobsang (age 5 to 10)
Tsewang Migyur
Khangsar as Dalai Lama's father
Tenzin Lodoe as
Thubten Jigme Norbu
Robert Lin as
Chairman Mao Zedong
Copyright by Ivan Walters
2014.
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