Seven Years in Tibet
I had seen parts of this epic film starring Brad Pitt before, but I had forgotten most of it. I’ve always been fascinated by the Dalai Lama and have long dreamed of traveling to Tibet, which is what drew me to the movie. The plot is compelling. A group of Austrian mountaineers, including Heinrich Harrer (played by Brad Pitt), sets out to climb a formidable peak in the Himalayas. However, their plans are disrupted by the outbreak of World War II, and the group is captured and imprisoned by the British. After escaping from the internment camp, Harrer and his companion, Peter, journey through Tibet for an extended period. They eventually reach Lhasa, the capital city, where Harrer strikes up an unlikely friendship with the young Dalai Lama.
In the course of several years, Harrer becomes the Dalai Lama’s tutor, introducing him to the wider world.The movie is engaging, but I found Brad Pitt’s portrayal of Harrer underwhelming. While the story itself is remarkable, I felt that the film would have been much stronger with a different actor in the lead role.