The acting, scenery, artistic composition and overall cinematography in Kundun are all remarkable, and combine to make a deep impression on the viewer. At the same time, the film tells a story which is historically and culturally significant. Unfortunately, the persistently mystical and impressionistic approach leaves the viewer wondering, at many points throughout the movie, whether what is shown is fact, memory, dream, vision, or simply a sensory/emotional impression the director wants to give the audience. A sense of death and doom pervade the movie, along with a vague fear of irrational forces acting through - or around - otherwise highly rational characters. Kundun is a work of art, but it is a dark art; a rewarding but not a satisfying experience.
