SEVEN YEARS IN TIBET
US, 1997, 136 minutes, Colour.
Brad Pitt, David Thewliss, B.D.Wong, Mako, Victor Wong.
Directed by Jean- Jacques Annaud.
Heinrich Harrer became tutor to the young Dalai Lama. He was in Tibet during the Chinese conquest. He is the focus of Seven Years in Tibet. For a focus on the Dalai Lama (with no mention of Harrer), Martin Scorsese's Kundun should be seen.
Heinrich Harrer was a well-known Austrian mountain-climber of the 30s. He had also been a member of the Nazi party. Harrer went with his friend, Peter Aufschnaiter, to climb in the Himalayas but the expedition was halted by an avalanche and he and his company were arrested by the British and sent to a prison camp. His wife divorced him. He wrote make contact with his son and tried to escape, eventually succeeding in 1942.
Harrer and Peter made a two year journey across northern India and eventually arrived in Tibet. In disguise, they were befriended and hidden, Peter eventually marrying there.
The movie is sometimes breathtaking in its photography (Argentina standing in for Tibet, Canada for India). It is also the story of a spiritual journey, not in the devout sense, but in the transformation of an egotistical man who had left his pregnant wife for climbing achievement, was not liked by his team, but who gradually changed through the cultural and Buddhist traditions of Tibet.
Brad Pitt, Germanic accent and all, is persuasive as Harrer. David Thewliss is his climbing partner. There is an international cast, including a number of Buddhist monks, and the Dalai Lama's sister portrays their mother. The film takes its Western audiences into a spiritual opening to Asia. But the film is also a plea for an understanding of the invasion of Tibet by communist China and the profound results for the nation, for Buddhism and the Dalai Lama and thousands of Tibetans living in exile.
1.Audience knowledge of Tibet? Its history? Buddhism? The impact of China’s takeover? As filmed fifty years after the events?
2.The role of the Dalai Lama, his history, the Kundun, as a child, from the village, in Lhasa, his status, training, his exile – and his subsequent history and Nobel Peace Prize in 1989? His impact in the world of the 20th century?
3.The critics of the film who considered it too European, focusing on a European in Tibet – but based on a true story. Is the criticism fair?
4.The wide screen photography, the European locations? The mountain territories of India and Tibet? The beauty, the sweep of the mountains, the sweep of the plains? The spectacle? The action sequences? The score?
5.The film and the footage filmed in Tibet? The reconstruction of Lhasa, the streets, the buildings, the interiors? The palace, ordinary people’s homes, temples? Old Tibet and the indications of change?
6.The 1940s, Tibet and its isolation, its relationship with China, the Buddhist traditions, the monks and monasteries? The change and openness to the 20th century world and to the West?
7.China and its changes in the first half of the 20th century, the emergence of Mao Tse Tung, his ambitions, a unified China, the declaration on Tibet, wanting Tibet as part of Chinese territory? The picture of the Chinese, their ruthlessness, the visit of the generals, the bombardments, the cruelty, the massacre of Tibetans? The subsequent history of Tibet as part of China and the Dalai Lama’s exile?
8.Buddhism, the picture of Buddhism and its traditions, images and statues, rituals and prayer, its philosophy, detachment, humility, being grounded? The reverence for the Buddha himself?
9.The casting of Brad Pitt as Heinrich Harrer? His screen presence? His story, the past, the Olympics and the gold medal, the mountain climbing? His plan to scale mountains in Asia? The relationship with his wife, her pregnancy, his coldness towards her, the scene at the station, the press and the photos? Getting his friend to look after his wife? Her pregnancy, his being away for the birth of the child? His meeting with Peter Aufschnaiter? The climb, the injuries, their internment, the escape, a growing sense of responsibility, the later letters from his family, his son disowning him? His never having seen his son? The Chinese takeover of Tibet and his return to Austria, meeting his wife, his son not wanting to see him, leaving the gift, the reconciliation with his son? The transformation of his character? His spiritual journey? The background of his Nazi affiliation, the National Socialists, his pride in being an Austrian? His renouncing this part of his life?
10.The theme of achievement, the Kundun’s comment about westerners wanting to achieve whereas Buddhism wanting people to be detached and humble?
11.The dramatics of the climb, working with Peter, Heinrich’s fall, his injury, his persevering, his saving Peter when he was hanging by the ropes? His arrogance? Saving Peter’s life? The bonds between the two?
12.The outbreak of World War Two, the effect on Austrians in Asia, the British and the rule in India, their being interned? The detail of camp life, their treatment, the other men? Hardships? The spirit of the internment?
13.The decision to escape, the means used to escape, their walking thousands of miles, the snow, the freezing and their boots, the sores? The experience of the bandits – but taking their horses and riding away? The mountains, the vast plains?
14.The arrival in Tibet, in Lhasa? The strange appearance of Europeans in Tibet? The people welcoming them? Kungo Tsarong and his friendship, welcoming them into his house, his wife? Buddhist hospitality? The gift of the clothes, the tailor and her work? Her friendship with the two? their pride in their new clothes? The meeting with the authorities and permission to stay? The encounter with Ngawang Jigme? His gift of the clothes? The friendship with him?
15.The portrait of the Kundun, seeing him at different phases of his childhood, four years old, eight years old? The portrait of the Dalai Lama at fourteen? The story of his birth, his selection, recognised as the incarnation of Buddha? His role in leadership in the Tibetans, a monk? The role of the regent? The esteem of the people? The rituals, his place as ruler, the decorum in audiences with him? The meeting with Heinrich, his golden hair, the discussions? His wanting to meet Heinrich, the range of questions, his love for movies, wanting Heinrich to build a movie theatre, pretending to drive in the car, the fixing of the radio and listening to the news, his questions about Europe, Heinrich teaching him, the map? Hearing the news about China? His audience with the Chinese generals and his commanding role? The dream of the massacre in his village? The invasion, the bombardment, his dilemma as to whether to stay or leave?
16.Ngawang Jigme and his role, as secretary, as diplomat? The gift of the clothes? His skill in diplomacy, his advising the regent, his becoming a governor? The siege, the attack of the Chinese? His saying he would not surrender, his message of surrender? His judgment of capitulating to the Chinese – even though the order was that all Tibetans would die for their country? His going to Beijing, being received by the generals? His thinking he was doing the patriotic thing? The final discussion with Heinrich, Heinrich giving him back his clothes, that being a great insult, Heinrich telling him he would have to live with himself?
17.The character of Peter Aufschnaiter, leading the expedition, on the mountains, the dangers, the friendship with Heinrich, their shared internment, the ordeal of the escape, the trek to Tibet? His friendship with the tailor, marriage? His adapting to Buddhist customs – the separate drink for the guest waiting on the table? Heinrich returning his watch to him?
18.The portrait of Heinrich Harrer, his life, its meaning? His work in Tibet, his surveying of the city? The buildings for the Dalai Lama? The episodes like the skating, instructing the Dalai Lama, answering his questions, the map? The discussions with the Kundun about his own son, the Dalai Lama being a kind of surrogate son? His return?
19.An emotional experience, interest in the history of Tibet, the film as informative and educational? The impact of the final comments about Tibet, the massacres, Chinese rule, the exile of the Dalai Lama – and issues of human rights?
