Sete Anos no Tibete

Visually captivating. This role made a huge star out of Brad Pitt, but actually, he is not as good here as he is, for example, in Se7en. The film’s best part is the first hour. Then it starts to become increasingly average and clichéd, without any originality or more exciting moments that would draw the viewer into the storyline. (11/07/2004)

A sequence of beautiful images without a deeper message. Scorsese's Kundun is richer in content, Annaud's film is just a flashy spectacle with a beautiful score by John Williams. But that’s not bad. (13/04/2003)

A nice retelling of the real life story of a man who went to climb the Himalayas and ended up becoming a teacher of the Dalai Lama himself. All the camera's attention falls solely on Pitt's complex character, with everything else being somehow secondary and unimportant. Unfortunately, the film’s biggest weakness is the depiction of Harrer's transformation, which actually happens in only one or two scenes. It certainly won't leave any emotional or thought-provoking impact, but I simply loved it. Beautiful landscape, an alien and peaceful culture facing the threat of war and a pleasant atmosphere interwoven with a new and interesting view of the world. I wouldn’t mind watching it again. (04/03/2012)

In the places where the book is an enthralling and unembellished travelog to the “Forbidden City" (in places even critical of Tibet), the adaptation is a technicolor, Hollywood fairytale. But not a bad one. The problem is that the movie doesn’t reveal Harrer’s past. For understandable reasons, Harrer also figures in the book this is based on, but makes no big waves because, unlike the movie, the book is mainly about Tibet as such and not at all about Harrer (or his relationship with Kundun). (23/06/2010)

I finished reading the book today and I have to say that the film handled it very well. It's a pity he had to leave out a few really interesting passages, but that's understandable - Seven Years in Tibet could have lasted maybe three hours, which might not be to everyone's taste (I'd take it, though). As for the film, we have a terrific Brad Pitt (I think this is where he once convinced me that he really is an actor with a capital A), Annaud's direction, which downright cuddles with the Himalayas, and especially John Williams, who once again gives you chills with how spectacular he is. Thumbs up for David Thewlis as well. Four stars and a bit. I'd like to see an extended version. (01/08/2010)