Seven Years in Tibet

Starring: Brad Pitt, David Thewlis, BD Wong, Mako, Danny Denzongpa, Ingeborga Dapkunaite, Victor Wong, Jamyang Jamtsho Wangchuck, Ric Young
Directed by: Jean-Jacques Annaud
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Adventure, Drama
1997

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: An egotistical Austrian mountain climber (Brad Pitt) forms an unlikely friendship with the Dalai Lama.

Review:

Tim: I enjoyed Seven Years in Tibet. Maybe not as much as I wish I did, but it's an enjoyable movie and solid effort from director Jean-Jacques Annaud. The story is an interesting one, and one of which most people are probably unaware. I think the movie treats the story like it's a little more fascinating than it actually is, but it's still worthwhile to see.

The film centers around Heinrich Harrer, who starts the film by not being the best dude. The movie is careful not to make him to unlikable, but it's clear that he is a man with the wrong priorities. This is most recognizable in his estrangement from his family, but the guy continually acts out of self-interest and egotism. This is crucial, because it's his personal journey that makes up the heart of this film. Sure, it happens against the backdrop of Tibet and China's takeover, but that is more context than anything else. This is the story of a lost man who finds his way again. Those kind of stories are always enjoyable. They make you think about your own mistakes and that salvation is still possible. We might not all have the Dalai Lama to help us get there, but this is somewhat of an inspiring movie.

Brad Pitt is decent in the lead role. His accent was troubling and there's a number of scenes where I didn't quite believe his performance. However, he had some really strong moments as well. It's funny to watch this movie twenty years later. Pitt is celebrated as a really strong actor and he's delivered some incredible performances. He wasn't always that good and that is obvious here. He's a talented guy, but this role was probably a bit too much of a stretch for him. He puts in the effort and does creates some effective moments, but this wasn't a role that he made his own. It was too much for his talent at the time.

I did like the casting of David Thewlis. He's a good actor and added a nice supporting turn here. I'm fans of B.D. Wong and Victor Wong, so it was enjoyable to see both of them here as well. Jamyang Jamtsho Wangchuk gave a great performance as the young Dalai Lama. The movie did need a stronger female presence, that was unfortunately missing.

The film tells a powerful story, but it feels like it requires effort to get there. This isn't the kind of movie you just sit and watch and are blown away. It takes focus and persistence to stick with it and mine valuable lessons. That's one of the movie's flaws- the takeaways shouldn't have required so much work. The movie is also a bit too long at 2 hours, 16 minutes. It needed to be under two hours long. Part of the length might be going for an epic scope, but this movie never feels that epic. Sure, there's some beautiful cinematography early on and it's wonderful to see the secluded Tibet depicted here. But, most of the movie takes place in a small area. This movie never feels as epic as it thinks it is. It actually feels a little small in the last half. That's not a bad thing, but a movie that think it's epic and it's not will always be limiting.

While I believe Seven Years in Tibet doesn't fully capitalize on its story or its potential, this is still a good movie. It's an interesting character study set in a time and place that feels far away from America. I enjoyed the movie and it's one I would certainly recommend (which some caveats).

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend:
Legends of the Fall, The Last Emperor