The 1997 Scorsese film about the early life of the Dalai Lama is Kundun. The film follows Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, from his discovery as a young child in Tibet through his religious education, political awakening, and flight to India in 1959.
Written by Melissa Mathison and directed by Martin Scorsese, Kundun was based partly on the Dalai Lama’s life and writings. Several actors portray him at different ages, including Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong as the adult Dalai Lama. The title is a Tibetan honorific meaning “presence,” a name used for the Dalai Lama.
Kundun is often confused with Seven Years in Tibet, another 1997 film involving Tibet and the Dalai Lama. Kundun is the Scorsese film and covers the leader’s life from childhood to exile. Its production also became politically controversial because the Chinese government objected to its depiction of Tibet and pressured Disney over distribution.