Review of Seven Years in Tibet (1997) by Miles H — 03 Feb 2008

As laughable as the idea of Brad Pitt playing opposite the young Dalai Llama may seem, this is actually a very moving and memorable film that is wonderfully acted, and directed with the passion of someone who was obviously quite taken with Heinrich Harrer's amazing book.

The story of personal growth and weathering set against the brutal oppression of Tibet by the Chinese army works surprisingly well, and though it begins in a rather traditional sense, it captivates and acquires a hypnotic power as the plot moves along.

Some will knock the film for its slow pace, but for a film set all across a place so vast and primordial. Similarly, Pitt's friendship with young Kundun takes a little suspension of disbelief at first, but as it progresses, it grows real and sumptuous, and when the inevitable conclusion comes, it bristles with sadness.

There are many great things going for the film. David Thewlis and BD Wong provide fantastic support, and Jean-Jacques Annaud develops the ambience of the Himalayas with some truly incredible and haunting sequences that will linger in the memory for weeks to follow.

He manages to reduce someone as large and known as Brad Pitt to an ant dropped into the middle of an endless valley of snow, rock, and ice, and that, is quite an accomplishment.