Most film buffs do not casually drop “Kundun” into everyday conversation. Even if cinephiles were assigned to rank the most overlooked films of Martin Scorsese’s career, “Bringing Out the Dead,” “After Hours,” or “Shutter Island,” a criminally ignored masterwork within its own right, would likely make the list long before anyone remembered the director’s biographical drama about the life of Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth Dalai Lama. Nevertheless, watching “In Search of Kundun” could serve as a worthwhile entry point for those interested in exploring the unnoticed jewels in the filmography of a cinematic icon.
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Helmed by renowned film historian and documentarian Michael Henry Wilson, “In Search of Kundun” not only expounds on the behind-the-scenes production of the aforementioned Scorsese film but also reflects upon the real-life foundation that the director’s film is rooted in, focusing much of the runtime on interviews with the Dalai Lama himself, interspliced with archival footage of the Tibetan people. By blurring discussions of the metaphysical with the debate of filmmaking logistics, Wilson creates an intriguing overlap between religion and the spiritual experience of collaborative art.
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As expected, if one possesses any familiarity with Scorsese’s personality, the contagious passion that the director consistently radiates could melt even the coldest heart. In particular, when examined within the context of a film that went on to flop at the box office and float into relative obscurity, it is endearing to witness Scorsese’s barely restrained excitement as he sculpts scenes and molds minor nuances in order to achieve his desired vision. As the director recalls the stylistic flourishes of Samuel Fuller and Robert Aldrich, Scorsese’s unadulterated enamor for the cinematic form shines at every turn, cementing the notion that the director is truly a talent whose impact on the medium will never be forgotten.
Complimentarily, Wilson’s parallel between the Dalai Lama and Scorsese, two gurus within their own respective communities, draws out the most interesting commentary that “In Search of Kundun” has to offer. A meditation on the importance of individuals who shift cultures through selflessness and the rejection of violence exists at the documentary’s core; notably, the Dalai Lama’s altruistic ways attracted Scorsese to the project, which can almost be seen as an accompaniment to “The Last Temptation of Christ,” another contemplative, spiritual-themed character study tucked away in the director’s catalog (and later on “Silence“). Furthermore, near the documentary’s conclusion, Scorsese likens film preservation to a form of pious worship, and although the comment is made in jest, the connections—while unintentional—compose an intriguing, semi-analogous connection between the disparate practices that exemplify the human experience.
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Despite its informative content and charming behind-the-veil revelations, anyone who does not harbor an interest in Scorsese’s filmography will not find much to take away from “In Search of Kundun.” Wilson’s treatment of the material glimmers with an overly attached gleam that robs the documentary of any bite or confrontational substance—the audiences are treated to brief glimpses of Scorsese’s frustration, but these moments are indicative of the implication that most of this exasperation was shaved away in order to preserve the doc’s prevalent positivity. “In Search of Kundun” shies away from any inkling of negativity and consequently creates an illusionary unreality occupied solely by smiles and good cheer that cannot help but feel slightly inauthentic. As a documentary focused on a film that delves into loss, isolation, and struggle, “In Search of Kundun” regrettably opts to dodge any-and-all substantive conflict.
And yet, as a harmless documentary that explores the sanctity of culture and the beauty of the cinematic medium, “In Search of Kundun” succeeds more than it stumbles, and if the documentary accomplishes one task without error, it is its promotion of a forgotten cinematic gem that deserves to be re-examined and properly appreciated. [B]
“In Search of Kundun” is newly remastered and now available on DVD via Kino Lorber.