The Only Martin Scorsese Movie He Can Rewatch Is His Most Overlooked Work: "Far Too Personal"

Martin Scorsese has one of the most impressive filmographies in cinema history, including Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and The Departed.

However, the director admits that he is incapable of rewatching them, with one exception: Kundun, his most underrated and experimental work.

Martin Scorsese Reveals He Can't Rewatch His Own Movies – Except 'Kundun'

In one interview, Scorsese explained why his filmography is like a closed book to him:

“It's [Kundun] one of the few films of mine that I can look at; probably the only one, I think. I mean, not that I don't like my films, it's just that they remind me of certain times and people, some of whom are gone now.

I get too sentimental about it. I can't watch them. Some of them are far too personal for me to go through that process again. I just won't do it. But Kundun is something else.”

What Is 'Kundun' About?

Kundun is a biopic about the early life of the 14th Dalai Lama. It chronicles his childhood, rise to power, and forced exile from Tibet following the Chinese occupation.

Screenwriter Melissa Mathison met with the Dalai Lama in person to secure permission to film and discuss details of his life. Martin Scorsese, known for his interest in religious figures, agreed to direct the project.

To ensure an uninterrupted immersion for the audience in the world of Tibet, he cast the movie with non-professional actors – there's not a single familiar face.

'Kundun' Is One of Martin Scorsese's Most Atypical Films That Certainly Deserves More Attention

Unlike Scorsese's other movies, Kundun eschews crime themes and actors – it's a meditative, almost documentary-like narrative that feels more like a parable than a drama.

The film received four Oscar nominations but failed to reach mainstream audiences. Furthermore, it angered the Chinese government, which permanently banned Scorsese from entering Tibet.

Fearing trouble opening Disneyland in Shanghai, Disney effectively sabotaged Kundun's release.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Kundun'?

• Kundun has 76% from critics and 78% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.0/10.

• On Letterboxd, Kundun scored 3.5/5.0.