ĪTibetā rivals classic epics

By Dave Flomberg
The Metropolitan

In the tradition of Lawrence of Arabia and The Last Emperor comes Seven Years In Tibet.

Sweeping cinematography of picturesque proportions makes this story about a German mountain climber befriending a young Dalai Lama. Directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, the film is based on a true story, which took place during the height of World War II.

Brad Pitt plays Heinrich Harrer, an egocentric outdoorsman, driven by fame and the need to climb an as-yet-unconquered peak in the Himalayas. He is the embodiment of the epic protagonist, a Holocaust-era Odysseus.

While on his trek, war is declared. Harrer and his party are placed in a prisoner of war camp. While there, he gets a letter from his wife. She wants a divorce and asks him to refrain from looking for his young son if he ever returns to Austria.

After two years in prison, he escapes with his party, and splits off in his own direction. Eventually, he is reunited with another member of the expedition, Peter Aufschnaiter, played by David Thewlis.

The two head toward Lhasa, the holy center of Tibet, where he meets and eventually befriends the spiritual leader of the country, the Dalai Lama, played by Jamyang Wangchuk.

Pitt demonstrates a new level of maturity as an actor in this film. Itās a role where he doesnāt shoot anybody and doesnāt get the girl.

Parallels between mountain climbing and Buddhism are drawn across the film. Harrerās path to the peak is eventually replaced by a search for the path to enlightenment. While the spiritual rhetoric becomes heavy-handed at times, it adds a colorful dimension to the story.

John Williams, the master of the movie score, composed the music for the film. The score underscores the scenery masterfully, as sweeping panoramic mountain shots give way to the brilliant colors and shapes of an ancient oriental culture buried within a lush valley.

Pitt brings immense depth to Harrerās character and should definitely garner an Oscar nomination.

The real-life Dalai Lamaās sister portrays his mother on the screen. Jetsun Pema may have found a new calling as an actress, as she seems very comfortable portraying her mother.

Seven Years In Tibet has it all ÷ great cinematography, good acting, and beautiful art, woven around a story that is simply epic.