Seven Years in Tibet, 1997

The story of the last few years of the Dalai Lama residing in Llasa, Tibet as seen through the eyes of two Westerners stranded there by World War II is the story presented in Seven Years in Tibet by director Jean-Jacques Annaud.  The movie is based on the true story written by Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer about his time spent in Tibet while unable to return to Austria due to the war.

A controversial film to be sure; all of the participants have been permanently banned from China, which regards Tibet as sovereign Chinese territory, which they seized in 1959, forcing the Dalai Lama into exile in Dharmsalama, India.

The movie begins with cocky, adventurous Heinrich Harrer (Brad Pitt) and his company Peter Aufschnaiter (David Thewlis) who are to embark upon a mission to climb to the top of Mt. Everest.  In sponsoring Nazi Germany’s viewpoint, this is a matter of German pride.  In Harrer’s viewpoint it is but another obstacle and challenge to best and he is most displeased to be forced to have Aufschnaiter’s company.

Shortly after arrival in India to begin their expedition World War II breaks out and India, as a British colony, decides to intern all German nationals in camps for security purposes.  Harrar makes repeated and faulty attempts to escape until he joins up with Aufschnaiter and they accomplish their escape and make their way into Tibet, where they are constantly made to feel unwelcome and urged to leave.

Finally through some stroke of luck or interest a Tibetan offers them a place to stay and they become the first Westerners to reside in Llasa in history.   It is here that the meat of the story begins as the young Dalai Lama is very interested in Western culture and technology and decides to employ Harrar as a tutor so that they may converse and so that he may be taught.  A friendship of legendery proportions develops between the two men and Harrar‘s character undergoes massive changes, becoming more selfless, more content, and generally more happy and appreciative for what he has.

In the meantime Aufschnaiter decides to marry a local Tibetan woman and to permanently relocate to Tibet.  Harrar resents this initially as it reflects on the fact that his own wife has divorced him, remarried a friend of his, and has promised to never tell his child about him.

It is important to note that this film is not only quite beautiful, but that its beauty is often quite subdued.  Much like the natural splendor it seeks to portray much of the beauty comes from the characters and the changes which they go through during their time in Tibet and finally when they are forced to leave because of a militaristic, nationalistic China, and a cowardly, but trusted adviser to the Dalai Lama.  When Harrar returns to Germany he is a different person and is no longer the petty, selfish, cold person he was when he left and while it is too late for him to reconcile with his wife, it is not too late for him to do so with his son.

Interestingly, obviously China officially would permit no filming to take place in Tibet, but Annaud smuggled in a camera crew that risked arrest and imprisonment if caught and many of their shots make it to the final cut.  The story is said to stay quite accurate to the book published by Harrar about his life and it is said that he and the Dalai Lama have remained close friends ever since.

Annaud‘s skillful telling of this story is something that shouldn’t be missed; Thewlis‘ often overlooked but skilled performance is something to behold; and Brad Pitt is here at one of the peaks of his performance repertoire.  Let the film’s slow, meditative structure wash over you and perhaps give you some time for instrospection to see if there’s not something in your own life you may wish to reevaluate or change.

Tags: 1997, b.d. wong, book adaptations, brad pitt, buddhism, china, david thewlis, drama, heinrich harrar, historical, jean-jacques annaud, tibet

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