Seven Years in Tibet

Seven Years in Tibet (1997) starring Brad Pitt, David Thewlis, B.D. Wong, Mako. Pitt puts on an Austrian accent and a blond dye-job as he plays Heinrich Harrer, a Nazi mountaineer who in 1939 journeys to Nepal to climb the world's ninth highest mountain. When World War II breaks out, he and his companion Peter (Thewlis) are taken prisoner by British forces and become P.O.W.s in India. After they escape and face many trials and tribulations, they gain entry into Lhasa, the most holy city of Tibet. There Harrer meets the 14-year-old Dalai Lama, who thirsts for knowledge of the wide world. Harrer grows close to the Dalai Lama. Then comes the Communist Chinese invasion of Tibet. The movie becomes a vehicle for condemnation of the Chinese occupation of Tibet, and as such it serves rather well. The fact that it is based on a true story gives it more power, and I liked it even though Pitt's performance was pretty weak. Subtitles are available on the disc, as well as closed captions. Grade: B+