After the death of 11 climbers, Austrian Heinrich Harrer (Brad Pitt) decides to add glory to his country and to the German pride by climbing Nanga Parbat in British India, and leaves his expectant wife behind. Egoist and a loner, he does not get along with others on his team - but must bend to their wishes after bad weather threatens them. Then WWII breaks out, they are arrested and lodged in Dehra Dun's P.O.W. Camp. He attempts to break out in vain several times, but finally does succeed along with Peter Aufschnaiter (David Thewlis), and end up in the holy city of Lhasa - a place banned to foreigners. They are provided food and shelter, and Peter ends up marrying a tailor, Pema Lhaki, while Heinrich befriends the Dalai Lama. He meets regularly to satiate the child's curiosity about the world, including Jack the Ripper and 'yellow hair'; in return he is exposed to teachings of Lord Buddha and even constructs a movie theater...
Written by rAjOo (gunwanti@hotmail.com)
Upon release, the film was condemned by the government of the People's Republic of China who claimed that the Communist Chinese military officers depicted were intentionally shown as being impolite and arrogant. They also objected to the positive depiction of the Dalai Lama.
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Goofs
Anachronisms:
Negotiators from the Peoples Republic are shown arriving by air. There was no air link until Lhasa Gonggar Airport was constructed in 1956.
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Quotes
Heinrich Harrer:
You're a seamstress. Pema Lhaki:
I'm a tailor, sir. The only tailor in Lhasa who has been to Calcutta and can reproduce these silly costumes. See more »
Crazy Credits
As the end credits roll, a view of the mountains of Tibet is seen.
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