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Brad Pitt, David Thewlis, B.D. Wong, Mako, Danny Denzongpa ... see more see more... , Victor Wong , Ingeborga Dapkunaite , Jamyang Jamtsho Wangchuk , Lhakpa Tsamchoe , Ama Ashe Dongtse , Sonam Wangchuk , Tsering Dorjee , Ric Young , Ngawang Chojor , Duncan Fraser , Benedick Bythe , Jetsun Pema , Mako Jamyang

Typically impressive natural vistas from director Jean-Jacques Annaud (some secretly filmed on location in Tibet) highlight this adaptation of the memoir by Heinrich Harrer. Brad Pitt stars as the arr... read more read more...ogant Heinrich, a famed Austrian mountain climber who leaves behind his wife and infant son to head a Himalayan expedition in 1939, only to fall into the hands of Allied forces as a prisoner of war. He and a fellow escapee, Peter Aufschnaiter (David Thewlis), make their way to the Forbidden City in Tibet, where Peter finds a wife and Heinrich befriends the Western culture-obsessed teenage Dalai Lama (Jamyang Jamtsho Wangchuk), the spiritual leader of his Buddhist nation. As Heinrich waits out the war, his friendship with the Dalai Lama begins to transform him from haughty to humble, but a crisis with China looms. A controversy over the revelation of the real-life Harrer's Nazi Party affiliation brewed during the film's production, forcing Annaud to briefly deal with the subject in the film. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Flixster Users

70% liked it

57,834 ratings

Critics

61% liked it

33 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 19 min.

Directed by: Jean-Jacques Annud, Jean-Jacques Annaud

Release Date: October 8, 1997

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DVD Release Date: April 7, 1998

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Stats: 2,080 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,080)

  • CloudStrife84
    June 1, 2011
    CloudStrife84
    Dazzling locations, swindling heights and breathtaking cinematography. A highly captivating film experience, even if the story lacks a clear and proper goal. We follow an Austrian mountain climber (Brad Pitt) as he embarks on a perilous journey into the isolated heart of Tibet. P... read moreitt does an excellent job with his role, despite the fact that his "Austrian" accent sounds awfully contrived. As previously inclined, there's a lot of water-treading progress-wise, and it could easily have been shortended down by at least 30 min. One thing I really liked though was the music score by John Williams. Much of the time, it stays quite anonymous in the background, but there are parts where it's reminiscent of the work he did for the Indiana Jones movies - which is a big plus point in my book. Had the story only possessed more drive and focus, this could have been a truly great motion picture. But due to mentioned drawbacks, it comes to a stop at the "good, but not amazing"-line on my enjoyment scale. In terms of beauty, however, it's close to being a full-pointer. A scenic pleasure that makes it more than worthwhile.
  • SirPant
    October 1, 2009
    SirPant
    Once you get past the bad acting, dodgy props & sets and awful accents it?s not such a bad film. It?s not quite the epic it wants to be though and you can?t help but think it was a wasted opportunity, especially as the story is so strong (although historically inaccurate).
  • bbcfloridabound
    July 5, 2009
    bbcfloridabound
    This is a Film From the 1997 Toronto International Film Festival, I remember seeing this one on the big screen and have watched it several times since, this time for review. First I will say I never get tired of watching it, its that good. Most who review it will tell you of Brad... read more Pitt's performance, though I thought good, mastering the German accent early in his career. My hats off an a 5 star performance to Sonam Wangchuk and Jamyang Jamtsho Wangchuk who played the Dalai Lama. Brad is a Mountain Climber who is from Austria, when getting back to base camp he is arrested for being a Nazi and put in prison camp, he escapes and finds his way into Tibet, where we are given the pleasure to see some of the best photography that I have seen in a movie in a long time. All in all if you haven't seen it its worth the buy or rent, its a long one so be prepared for a night of fine entertainment. 4 1/2 stars.
  • thmtsang
    September 17, 2008
    thmtsang
    This is a long one. Based on a true story about an Austrian mountaineer. Brad tries to climate the Himalayas and is imprisoned in a prisoner of war camp. He escapes and tries to travel through Tibet but is kicked out as foreigners are forbidden until he befriends the Dahli Lama.
  • 76Majikat
    February 28, 2008
    76Majikat
    Not exactly what I thought this film would be, but having a spiritual side I enjoyed the journey and of course a view of the place I would love to see more than any place in the world.

    Accent wise, not a great performance from Pitt, but the experience and story of the film are... read more more important.
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    January 29, 2008
    DragonEyeMorrison
    Seven minutes into this felt already too long. What a waste of David Thewlis.
  • puffchunk
    November 28, 2007
    puffchunk
    Brad Pitt's Austrian accent needs a little help, but other wise this movie was good.
  • emilebond007
    November 27, 2007
    emilebond007
    It was badly made and I don't think Brad Pitt was ready for his role. But I still liked this movie.
  • ceWEBrity
    November 21, 2007
    ceWEBrity
    I've changed significantly in the two years since I've seen this, but I found it completely stifling and insufferable. All I could remember about it was the fact that I was bored stiff.
  • mjgildea
    November 9, 2006
    mjgildea
    A lot of people bash it, but this is one of the most beautiful movies I've ever seen. And I cried for hours after I saw it.

View All Seven Years in Tibet Reviews

Critic Reviews

Mike Clark
January 1, 2000
Mike Clark, USA Today

Pitt is no disgrace but is blown off the screen by a bright-eyed adolescent actor.

Michael Dequina
January 5, 2009
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com

Pitt is smiling, taking his shirt off, brushing his blond locks with his hands, striking poses against the picturesque scenery--in short, being Brad Pitt. Full Review

James Plath
July 26, 2007
James Plath, Movie Metropolis

Part road picture, part epic, and part spiritual journey, Seven Years in Tibet is a beautiful film with a story so typical-yet-unusual that it could only have come from autobiography. Full Review

Luke Y. Thompson
June 10, 2004
Luke Y. Thompson, LYTRules.com

I was expecting the worst -- everyone calls this film "Seven Hours in a Theater." But really, it's pretty good Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
April 12, 2004
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Failed to convince me that Harrer moved from a self-absorbed bigot to an enlightened being, especially since his memoir never mentioned his Nazi past. Full Review

John A. Nesbit
March 9, 2003
John A. Nesbit, Old School Reviews

Most will likely forget about Seven Years in Tibet soon after viewing since the filmmakers have focussed on less interesting aspects Full Review

Forrest Hartman
February 21, 2003
Forrest Hartman, Reno Gazette-Journal

A movie that makes molasses look fast.

Pablo Villaca
May 31, 2002
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena

Ainda tenho aquela sensação de que poderia ter me emocionado muito com esta história. Full Review

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
February 28, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

An egotistical Austrian undergoes a spiritual transformation through his contact with Tibetan Buddhists. Full Review

James Sanford
January 1, 2000
James Sanford, rec.arts.movies.reviews

Annaud and screenwriter Becky Johnston's view of the Tibetans isn't much more sophisticated than James Hilton's depiction of the inhabitants of Shangri-La in 'Lost Horizon': They're mostly serene myst... Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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  • In "Fight Club", the theater in the streets in one of the scenes says "Seven Years in Tibet".   Answer »
  • Which of these movies did Tom Cruise NOT act in?  Answer »
  • In What Movie Does Brad Pitt Star as an Austrain Climber  Answer »
  • In which movie did Brad Pitt do a VERY dodgy Austrian accent?!!  Answer »
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