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Seven Years in Tibet

Play trailer Poster for Seven Years in Tibet PG-13,  1997,  2h 16m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Stream Now Watchlist 57% 35 Reviews Tomatometer 73% 50,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
57% Tomatometer 35 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Hired as an instructor, an egocentric Austrian mountaineer gradually learns selflessness from the young Dalai Lama.
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Seven Years in Tibet

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Seven Years in Tibet

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Seven Years in Tibet tells its fascinating true-life story with a certain stolid grace, even if it never quite comes to life the way it could.

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Critics Reviews

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David Ansen Newsweek Mar 6, 2018
Unfortunately for Seven Years in Tibet, its focus is on the wrong guy. Harrer may be a fascinating figure in real life, but he never shows up here. The guy we're watching is never anyone but Brad Pitt. Go to Full Review
Mike Clark USA Today Jan 1, 2000
2.5/4
Pitt is no disgrace but is blown off the screen by a bright-eyed adolescent actor. Go to Full Review
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Jan 1, 2000
2.5/4
The movie is about two characters and is told from the point of view of the wrong one. Go to Full Review
Dan DiNicola The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY) Jan 10, 2023
C
Too sluggish and fares better as a travelogue than a drama. Go to Full Review
Pico Iyer The New York Review of Books Aug 17, 2018
If the film seems a little like a fairy tale, what can one do with the story of an Olympic skier who ends up as tutor to a boy-king regarded as a god? Go to Full Review
Michael Dequina TheMovieReport.com Jan 5, 2009
2/4
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. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Hagrid L Dec 29, 2018 Very interesting story. I watched in three or four sittings. I recommend it. Great visuals.
Rey R Nov 8, 2018 This was a controversial film upon release and if I am not wrong its outright banned in China. It's a good film based on the real experiences of an Austrian explored and the dalai lama during some difficult period in Tibetian history(basically Chinese Occupation). Brad Pitt plays the lead character and is pretty alright. David Thewlis plays his mate. The child playing the young Dalai Lama steals the show though and the scenery of Tibet is a plus point. Great topic but an average film. See more
Abraham L Oct 12, 2018 This was a controversial film upon release and if I am not wrong its outright banned in China. It's a good film based on the real experiences of an Austrian explored and the dalai lama during some difficult period in Tibetian history(basically Chinese Occupation). Brad Pitt plays the lead character and is pretty alright. David Thewlis plays his mate. The child playing the young Dalai Lama steals the show though and the scenery of Tibet is a plus point. Great topic but an average film. See more
Hermione S Sep 30, 2018 A trip to Tibet with Brad Pitt. Seven Years in Tibet (1997) is a beautiful commemoration to those that died in Tibet during China's invasion of the country. It is equal parts a character study of Brad Pitt's Austrian mountain climber that learns to care about others while stranded in Tibet, while also chronicling the transition in Tibet to China's ruling power. I think it makes for a nice drama about humanity as well as a historical war dramatization. Jean-Jacques Annaud directs Seven Years in Tibet with a clever eye for beautiful sets, colorful costumes, panning shots, and intimate framing for each scene. I must mention John Williams' beautiful score that takes into account Tibet's music and culture into his composition. Williams sets the tone and atmosphere with carefully subtle musical cues throughout Seven Years in Tibet. Brad Pitt's performance is quite touching with a passable Austrian accent. Pitt plays the part of Heinrich Harrer, who befriends a young Dalai Lama. I thought his portrayal seemed very fair as the man is very cruel, selfish, and dismissive, then learns to understand other cultures and people over time. Pitt gave a nice display of empathetic acting in his Seven Years in Tibet role. David Thewlis, Mako, B.D. Wong, and especially Jamyang Jamtsho Wangchuck give excellent supporting roles in Seven Years in Tibet. They demonstrate subtle performances with an attention to detail that I appreciated. Thewlis is patient and thoughtful as Harrer's friend. Mako is kindly and knowledgeable. B.D. Wong is respectful and underhanded as the story goes along. Then, Wangchuck is fascinating as the young Dalai Lama. He is captivating in his serious nature and playful spirit. I think Seven Years in Tibet got unfairly panned. This is a thoughtful and important film that depicts Tibet like you've never seen it before. I hope audiences give it another chance. See more
Luke S Jul 23, 2018 This was a controversial film upon release and if I am not wrong its outright banned in China. It's a good film based on the real experiences of an Austrian explored and the dalai lama during some difficult period in Tibetian history(basically Chinese Occupation). Brad Pitt plays the lead character and is pretty alright. David Thewlis plays his mate. The child playing the young Dalai Lama steals the show though and the scenery of Tibet is a plus point. Great topic but an average film. (A decent film on a faraway exotic land). See more
Hermione M Apr 30, 2018 I remember watching this movie, couldn't get to the end of it, it felt like the longest thing I ever got to sit through. It really does seem to last seven years. See more
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Seven Years in Tibet

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Movie Info

Synopsis Hired as an instructor, an egocentric Austrian mountaineer gradually learns selflessness from the young Dalai Lama.
Director
Jean-Jacques Annaud
Producer
John H. Williams, Iain Smith, Jean-Jacques Annaud, Catherine Moulin
Screenwriter
Heinrich Harrer, Becky Johnston
Distributor
Sony Pictures Entertainment, TriStar Pictures
Production Co
TriStar Pictures, Mandalay Entertainment, Mandalay Pictures
Rating
PG-13 (Some Violent Scenes)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 8, 1997, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$37.9M
Runtime
2h 16m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Digital, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
35mm, Scope (2.35:1)
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