7
Years in Tibet (1997)
It would
be easy to dismiss this as a lightweight Brad Pitt trip
to the orient, if it wasn't such a sweet, sincere, and
expansive film. Based on the true life experiences of
Heinrich Harrer, the film covers mountain climbing,
WWII, as well as Tibet, it's customers, political and
religious beliefs and it's spiritual leader, the Dali
Lama. For those of us who know nothing of the Dali Lama's
story, it's like a primer, a starting point into understanding
the situation.
Pitt makes
a remarkable yet subdued transformation from a thoughtless,
egotistical jerk to a spiritual and peaceful father.
Pitt doesn't overwork this evolution. He simple sticks
with the remarkable screenplay, by Becky Johnston, and
allows his character to unfold. It is wonderful watching
him work here. Those who think his pretty facade distracts
from the film are to busy dissecting the pictures to
see the film. Maybe they got bored with Producer/Director
Jean-Jaques Annaud pacing here. The film does lag in
a few spots. It also suffers from choppy editing in
places where one can tell the film had to cut to force
it into it's 2 and one half hour running time.
Pitt is
aided by wonderful performances from David Thewlis,
B.D. Wong and a cast of Easterners. But the true salvation
of the film is the remarkable performances by three
young men as the Dali Lama. Jamyang Wang Chuck, Tenzin
Wang Chuck, and Dorjee Tsoring are so remarkable that
we don't even realize this is three different boys playing
the role. Jamyang's mature and spiritual being evolves
so naturally out of Tenzin's quizzical and sweet portrayal;
It's magical. Also, it is easy to see Pitt has a chemistry
with the boys. This is important since their relationship
is a focal point for the film. Nothing about it seems
forced or untrue on screen. The boys charm Pitt and
this, in turn, charm us .
"7 Years
in Tibet" is beautiful to look at. It has a interesting
story and great acting. It lags in a few places but
it's overall resolve to show us a complete and wondrous
story of a man's spiritual evolution speared on by the
love of a young boy eventually wins us over.
Note:
Music by
John Williams with cello solos performed by Yo Yo Ma.
Pitt was
plagued by little girl fans while on the set and the
producers eventually had to build a $60,000, 12 foot
high barbed wire fence around the barracks where he
slept.
A bit before
the film was released, it was suggested that Harrer
was a member of the Nazi party. This seemed to have
little impact on the film's release.
(Review
written in 1997)
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Report
Card
Script: A
Acting: A+
Cinematography\Lighting: A
Special Effects\Make Up: A
Music: A
Final
Grade: A
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