Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
Seven Years in Tibet
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Seven Years in Tibet (1997) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 57 | slideshow) Videos
Seven Years in Tibet (1997) -- 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.

Overview

User Rating:
6.7/10   24,737 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 5% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Writers (WGA):
Heinrich Harrer (book)
Becky Johnston (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Seven Years in Tibet on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
8 October 1997 (USA) more
Tagline:
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 synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 6 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(23 articles)
Annaud eyes Weiss's 'Kashmir'
 (From digitalspy. 14 October 2008, 7:44 AM, PDT)

Pitt "Embarrassed" by Early Films
 (From WENN. 26 October 2007)

User Comments:
Too long but still worth it more

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)
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for some violent sequences.
Runtime:
139 min
Country:
USA
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital | SDDS (8 channels)
Company:
Applecross more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
In the scene where Heinrich confronts Ngawang, the director did not tell B.D. Wong the script called for Brad Pitt to throw him into the dirt; Wong's reaction is completely authentic. more
Goofs:
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. more
Quotes:
Heinrich Harrer: It's strange to me that something so harmless as a jacket could symbolize such a great lie. more
Soundtrack:
Clair de Lune more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
22 out of 36 people found the following comment useful:-
Too long but still worth it, 27 February 1999
8/10
Author: Sean Gallagher (naes@cgocable.net) from Oakville, Ont. Canada

The main problem with this film, and indeed with many films set in the outdoors, is that it's too long. Maybe it's because I'm a product of the city and the suburbs, but to me, most movies set in the outdoors that don't use the scenery to advance the plot or set the mood, but rather just want to gaze at it, bore me quickly. It's like, "Yes, it's beautiful, let's move on." Also, though I like Brad Pitt, he doesn't always do the job with his Austrian accent; even when he gets it down, you're always thinking, "That's Brad Pitt doing an Austrian accent," rather than, "That's Heinrich Harrer." And that whole subplot about Harrer missing the son he's never seen doesn't work.

Still, there is much to like in this film. In many of these "white men in strange country" movies, the emphasis is on what the white man teaches the people in the other country, and that's somewhat condescending; here, it's on what the people in the other country teach Harrer, yet his story isn't made more important than the story of the Tibet people. Also, though his accent doesn't convince, Pitt is convincing as Harrer in the physical sense; he looks like a former skier and like the blond, blue-eyed ideal of the Nazis. And finally, he's convincing in taking us through Harrer's transformation.

Two more things; one, someone in their comments wondered how the Dalai Lama knew so much about Western culture. According to the book, Harrer found the Dalai Lama to be quite curious about the world around him, so he studied what he could. Also, the film meets head-on the controversy about Harrer being a former Nazi; it doesn't soft-pedal his past at all, which makes his transformation that much more convincing.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Chinese attack (did they suffer any losses?) bluegrassdude5601
Worms’ wellbeing versus fur caps and clothing. riverlynx
Something the outside world should remember... brenz_100
Anyone else ever been there? Twizzler_11
A Nazi Hero? zhao_kun_83
Historical Accuracy Dontcallmekeys
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Kundun The Great Escape Europa Europa Milarepa Mulan
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Adventure section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.