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Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
8 October 1997 (USA) moreTagline:
At the end of the world his real journey began.Plot:
True story of Heinrich Harrer, an Austrian mountain climber who became friends with the Dalai Lama at the time of China's takeover of Tibet. full summary | full synopsisAwards:
Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 6 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(25 articles)
Robert Pattinson, Brad Pitt And More Overnight Sex Symbols (From MTV Movie News. 29 September 2009, 2:52 AM, PDT)
Bad Accents In Film
(From FilmShaft.com. 22 September 2009, 10:42 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
A moving, well-crafted, and visually breathtaking film more (95 total)Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Brad Pitt | ... | Heinrich Harrer | |
| David Thewlis | ... | Peter Aufschnaiter | |
| B.D. Wong | ... | Ngawang Jigme | |
| Mako | ... | Kungo Tsarong | |
| Danny Denzongpa | ... | Regent | |
| Victor Wong | ... | Chinese 'Amban' | |
| Ingeborga Dapkunaite | ... | Ingrid Harrer | |
| Jamyang Jamtsho Wangchuk | ... | Dalai Lama, 14 Years Old | |
| Lhakpa Tsamchoe | ... | Pema Lhaki | |
| Jetsun Pema | ... | Great Mother | |
| Ama Ashe Dongtse | ... | Tashi | |
| Sonam Wangchuk | ... | Dalai Lama, 8 Years Old | |
| Dorjee Tsering | ... | Dalai Lama, 4 Years Old | |
| Ric Young | ... | General Chang Jing Wu | |
| Ngawang Chojor | ... | Lord Chamberlain (as Ven. Ngawang Chojor) |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for some violent sequences.Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
139 minCountry:
USAColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 moreCertification:
Canada:PG (Ontario) | Malaysia:U | Brazil:Livre (DVD rating) | Iceland:12 | South Korea:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 (bw) | Mexico:B | Netherlands:12 | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG-13Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Jetsun Pema is the real-life sister of the Dalai Lama. In this film she plays the mother of the Dalai Lama and hence her own mother. moreGoofs:
Anachronisms: When everyone is skating, all of them are skating on modern hockey blades. Some of the people can be seen with white plastic blade attachments. moreQuotes:
Heinrich Harrer: In this place where time stands still it seems like everything is moving. Including me. I can't say I know where I'm going nor if my bad deeds can be purified. There are so many things I have done that I regret. But when I come to a full stop I hope you understand that the distance between us is not as great as it seems. moreSoundtrack:
Clair de Lune moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (95 total)
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First of all, Seven Years In Tibet is a very aesthetically pleasing film. The snowy Himalayas, the Tibetan villages, and the amazing costumes and religious ceremonies are all filmed beautifully, with rich colours and lighting. The music by John Williams is also excellent, and it's fascinating to hear how it blends with the unusual Tibetan music.
It's not all surface though, there's depth here too. Don't believe the negative comments about Brad Pitt's acting. Admittedly his accent slips a bit in places, but he does a great job as Heinrich, both the unpleasant, arrogant character at the beginning, and the more gentle and wise man that he becomes as the film progresses. His relationship with the young Dalai Lama (a very impressive actor) is an unusual one and refreshingly unsentimental. The film is well edited; scenes are not drawn out any longer than they need to be. As a whole, it is fast paced but also peaceful, tender and moving. You don't get bored but you're not bombarded with pointless action scenes either.
It's a pleasant surprise to see a Hollywood film where women and other cultures aren't treated as objects, and are allowed to be full, complex characters. It could be argued that this film has a Western perspective, but after all, it is adapted from a book written by a European living in Tibet, and intended for Western audiences. It treats the Tibetan culture with a great deal of respect, so I don't really see a problem with that. Similarly, those who have complained that it doesn't tell you enough about the Dalai Lama and too much about Heinrich, ultimately it is Heinrich's story, and that is its strength: that it is one man's tale, and not a political polemic. It gives you a great sense of how people's stories intersect and how the whole world is connected.
Overall, an unusual film, very involving and emotional without sentimentality, with wonderful music and outstanding cinematography. Highly recommended.