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Seven Years in Tibet

Seven Years in Tibet

Adventure · Drama · History · 1997

Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer journeys to the Himalayas without his family to head an expedition in 1939. But when World War II breaks out, the arrogant Harrer falls into Allied forces' hands as a prisoner of war. He escapes with a fellow detainee and makes his way to Lhasa, Tibet, where he meets the 14-year-old Dalai Lama, whose friendship ultimately transforms his outlook on life.

Movie details

Seven Years in Tibet

“At the end of the world his real journey began.”

1997 Adventure · Drama · History 2h 16m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.2 / 10

Community rating

Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer journeys to the Himalayas without his family to head an expedition in 1939. But when World War II breaks out, the arrogant Harrer falls into Allied forces' hands as a prisoner of war. He escapes with a fellow detainee and makes his way to Lhasa, Tibet, where he meets the 14-year-old Dalai Lama, whose friendship ultimately transforms his outlook on life.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Seven Years in Tibet?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Jean-Jacques Annaud

Written by

Becky Johnston

Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt

Heinrich Harrer

Jamyang Jamtsho Wangchuk

Jamyang Jamtsho Wangchuk

Dalai Lama, 14 Years Old

David Thewlis

David Thewlis

Peter Aufschnaiter

BD Wong

BD Wong

Ngawang Jigme

Mako

Mako

Kungo Tsarong

Lhakpa Tsamchoe

Lhakpa Tsamchoe

Pema Lhaki

Ingeborga Dapkūnaitė

Ingeborga Dapkūnaitė

Ingrid Harrer

Court is in session

Put Seven Years in Tibet on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.