What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedKundun
Martin Scorsese · Film · 1997
If you loved Kundun, start with Freedom in Exile (Dalai Lama XIV Bstan-ʼdzin-rgya-mtsho, 1990) — a book on the same thread. Below: 1 book, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Kundun across media.
What hooked you in Kundun was the way the struggle for spiritual preservation intersects with the immense weight of political displacement.
Books on the same thread
Freedom in Exile
Dalai Lama XIV Bstan-ʼdzin-rgya-mtsho · Book · 1990
Shares 2 threads with Kundun: Exile, Spiritual Leadership.
If the exile of the Dalai Lama in Kundun moved you, this autobiography provides the firsthand account of that same life and the enduring fight for Tibetan cultural survival.
Series on the same thread
Shōgun
Rachel Kondo · Series · 2024
Explores: Power Struggle, Cultural Clash, Survival.
Much like the cultural clash depicted in Kundun, this series explores the high-stakes navigation of political intrigue and survival when a foreign power threatens to dismantle an established society.
Jesus of Nazareth
Franco Zeffirelli · Series · 1977
Explores: Faith, Redemption, Sacrifice.
If you appreciated the spiritual leadership and sacrifice portrayed in Kundun, this epic provides a similarly reverent look at a central religious figure navigating a hostile historical landscape.
Kung Fu
Herman Miller · Series · 1972
Explores: Redemption, Spiritual Journey, Fish Out of Water.
Those drawn to the quiet, meditative spiritual journey of the Dalai Lama in Kundun will find a familiar resonance in this monk's disciplined search for peace in a foreign land.
Wild Wild Country
Series · 2018
Explores: Cults, Religious Extremism, Utopian Communities.
While Kundun focuses on a peaceful religious leader, this series examines the friction between a religious community and outsiders, echoing the intense cultural conflicts that defined the Dalai Lama's struggle.
Podcasts on the same thread
Mahabharatam
Podcast
Explores: ancient warfare, family conflict, duty (dharma).
If the epic scale of Kundun resonated with you, this podcast offers a deeper exploration of ancient duty and family conflict, mirroring the grand, historical weight of religious traditions.
Locarno Meets
Podcast
Explores: cinema history, film analysis, artistic process.
If you admired the artistic precision Scorsese brought to Kundun, these conversations with legendary filmmakers provide a fascinating look at the craft behind the cinema you deeply value.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Kundun based on a true story?
Yes, Kundun depicts the true historical events surrounding the 14th Dalai Lama. It follows his life in Tibet, the invasion by communist China, and his subsequent escape to India in 1959, where he has lived in exile in Dharamsala ever since.
What does the title Kundun mean in the movie?
In the film, the title Kundun refers to the Dalai Lama. The term is used by the Tibetan people to mean The Presence, acknowledging his spiritual role and significance to the nation before he was forced to flee his home during the Chinese invasion.
Where does the Dalai Lama live after the events of Kundun?
After the events depicted in Kundun, the Dalai Lama escaped to India in 1959. He has been living in exile in Dharamsala, India, ever since the oppressive regime was enforced upon his native home of Tibet by communist China.
Why did the Dalai Lama have to leave Tibet in Kundun?
The Dalai Lama was forced to escape Tibet in Kundun because communist China invaded the country. The Chinese government enforced an oppressive regime upon the peaceful nation, which made it impossible for the Dalai Lama to remain in his native home.