Seven Years in Tibet | 
| Director: Jean-jacques Annaud
Actors: Brad Pitt, David Thewlis, B.d. Wong, Mako, Danny Denzongpa
Studio: Sony Pictures
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.94
Buy Used: $2.98
You Save: $11.96 (80%)
New (48) Used (45) from $2.98
Rating:  107 reviews
Sales Rank: 7163
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Full Screen, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
DVD Layers: 1
DVD Sides: 2
Picture Format: Pan & Scan
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 139 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 4.7 x 0.6
MPN: COLD21819D
ISBN: 0767806239
UPC: 043396218192
EAN: 9780767806237
ASIN: 0767806239
Theatrical Release Date: October 8, 1997
Release Date: April 7, 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
If it hadn't been for Brad Pitt signing on to play the lead role of obsessive Austrian mountain climber Heinrich Harrer, there's a good chance this lavish $70 million film would not have been made. It was one of two films from 1997 (the other being Martin Scorsese's exquisite Kundun) to view the turmoil between China and Tibet through the eyes of the young Dalai Lama. But with Pitt onboard, this adaptation of Harrer's acclaimed book focuses more on Harrer, a Nazi party member whose life was changed by his experiences in Tibet with the Dalai Lama. Having survived a treacherous climb on the challenging peak of Nanga Parbat and a stint in a British POW camp, Harrer and climbing guide Peter Aufschnaiter (nicely played by David Thewlis) arrive at the Tibetan city of Lhasa, where the 14-year-old Dalai Lama lives as ruler of Tibet. Their stay is longer than either could have expected (the "seven years" of the title), and their lives are forever transformed by their proximity to the Tibetan leader and the peaceful ways of the Buddhist people. China looms over the land as a constant invasive threat, but Seven Years in Tibet is more concerned with viewing Tibetan history through the eyes of a visitor. The film is filled with stunning images and delightful moments of discovery and soothing, lighthearted spirituality, and although he is somewhat miscast, Pitt brings the requisite integrity to his central role. What's missing here is a greater understanding of the young Dalai Lama and the culture of Tibet. Whereas Kundun tells its story purely from the Dalai Lama's point of view, Seven Years in Tibet is essentially an outsider's tale. The result is the feeling that only part of the story's been told here--or maybe just the wrong story. But Harrer's memoir is moving and heartfelt, and director Jean-Jacques Annaud has effectively captured both sincerity and splendor in this flawed but worthwhile film. --Jeff Shannon
Product Description
AN EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURE BASED ON THE TRUE STORY OF AN AUSTRIAN PRISONER OF WAR WHO IS BEFRIENDED BY TIBET'S DALAI LAMA ON THE EVE OF THE COMMUNIST INVASION.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 102 more reviews...
Nice Visuals, Story April 21, 2009
Craig Connell (Lockport, NY USA)
It was nice to see Brad Pitt in such a restrained role. It's an interesting story of "Henrik Harrer" (Pitt) and his adventures getting to Tibet with his friend "Peter Aufschnaiter" (David Thewlis) and then his relationship to the young Dali Lama.
The film is as pretty as you would expect from one in such mountainous surroundings . There are really nice colors in here and the movie looks just great on DVD, especially Blu-Ray. The story tells of Harrer's escape from the Western world and from participating in WWII. He winds up spending seven years in Tibet, hence the title.
Finally, I thought the soundtrack was good, too, featuring an instrument I don't know but love its sound. The cinematography in here, and justifiably, gets a lot of attention, but the music is great, too. Even though I've heard it said this probably was in large part a propaganda piece for the Dali Lama, I found it a surprisingly good story and very pleasing.
A film to experience April 18, 2009
J. D. Best, author (Arizona)
Great acting, beautiful cinematography, and an appropriate score make this a film worthy of watching numerous times. Having been to Tibet, I could not fault the film for its depiction of this fascinating country. The plot retains interest, but sometimes seems to gloss over significant events so the viewer needs to fill in the blanks. Brad Pitt's affected Austrian accent is off-putting, but, all in all, this is a great film worthy of a place in a home library.
My only disappointment was that there are no special features. If you would like to learn more about Tibet during the period reflected in the movie, I suggest A History of Modern Tibet, 1913-1951: The Demise of the Lamaist State
 A visual treat April 8, 2009
H. Turner (Indiana)
Stunning visuals and an engaging story make this film a winer. Blue-ray makes it even better, as some scenes wil take your breath away with grandeur and beauty.
A Movie that Moves Viewers Heart February 17, 2009
A Reader with Gratitude and Appreciation (Minneapolis, MN)
7 Years in Tibet is about a German-Austrian Mountain Climber - Heinrich Harrer's spiritual journey and his meeting with the young Dali Lama during his journey.
Although I am not a big fan of Brad Pitt, I thought he did an excellent acting job as the character Heinrich Harrer, who many of us can identify and relate to - The goal oriented and egoistic person who life brought him down to his knees feeling separated and isolated in the foreign country - Tibet (to not spoil the story, I will let you watch the movie to figure out what happen to this character). I am also happy the main character Heinrich Harrer was acted by Brad Pitt because he is a famous movie star (that makes many others want to watch the movie and be aware of the issue Tibet has suffered).
After I watched the movie, I also went on a google search to see a biography of Heinrich Harrer. I was surprised on how the costume and the make-up of the movie of the main characters match what I saw on the internet. It shows that the movie must have been made with great care of details to match the culture, the history and the times.
I love the story of this movie (and probably will buy the book to read some day) because it is different from the standard "love story" comedies or the violent victory movies portraying some heroes out there saving the world. The movie is made from a true story about Heinrich Harrer's friendship with the young Dali Lama and how the wisdom from Dali Lama helped Heinrich Harrer to grow spiritually as a human being (you have to watch the movie to experience this inspiration).
As a Chinese, I am ashamed of what the Chinese Government at the time did to Tibetans, yet I have no right to vote against their behavior and violence. I am ashamed of what the Chinese Government has done still today about not freeing Tibet, yet, I do not have a right to vote of a government that listens to my voice. My own parents suffered from separation, despair and sorrow from the same Chinese Government during Chinese Cultural revolution in the 60s. Therefore, even though I am not a Tibetan, I can understand what Tibetans must have been through - physical and emotional torture from this unconscious, egoistic entity.
I am writing this review to let others know that not all Chinese out there are ruthless and insensitive about this issue. I care about this issue and one could only hope the nation of Tibet can find its political freedom some day. Maybe political freedom will come later. However, may I humbly ask for healing, forgiveness Tibetans have suffered all these years because resentment, hatred, if any, can only poison ourselves further and these poison can be passed on to many more generations. All I can say is if I were ever a Chinese Government official, I would have been one/want to be one who can stand up representing the Chinese Government to say, "I apologize for what my government has done. Human beings are all one. Let us show respect, compassion, integrity just like the way the Tibetan culture have shown us - Compassion, non-violence, peace." May that time come soon as the global consciousness is awakening of itself.
Thank you for reading my review.
how to please someone February 6, 2009
Paul (Cornwall, near England)
My partner described liking this film after finding the book in my collection, and said she'd only had a copy on an old video cassette in the attic, so, it was absolutely brilliant to be able to find it on your site and have it delivered within a couple of days to our house as a surprise present. Many thanks Paul
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