SEVEN YEARS IN TIBET
Rated PG-13 - Running time: 2:09 - Released 10/10/97
Author's
Note: This is one of the ten movie reviews I wrote
for the October 30, 1997 issue of The Republican, the first
week my reviews were ever published there. Because of space and
time requirements, these ten reviews had to be especially brief,
some even shorter than this Author's Note. Someday I will re-view
them and re-review them so as to provide a more in-depth commentary,
but for now you'll just have to live with the short version. Sorry.
--JRM
A sweeping epic based on the true story of Austrian mountain climber
Heinrich Harrer (Brad Pitt), who is taken prisoner when World
War II breaks out as he is on an expedition on British (Indian)
soil. He escapes and flees to Tibet, where he remains beyond the
end of the war, becoming a friend to the young Dalai Lama (Jamyang
Wangchuk). This is a beautiful film, ripe with spectacular landscapes
and complemented by a majestic musical score by John Williams.
Other musical elements which add to the atmosphere are the deep
bass tones of the large Tibetan horns, and the reccuring notes
of Debussy's Claire de Lune, solemnly rendered on a music box
owned by the young religious leader. This theme excellently evokes
the boy's loneliness in his isolation. Pitt is really not bad
despite his "pretty boy" image and his uncanny resemblance
to a young Robert Redford, king of the pretty boys. Directed by
Jean-Jacques Annaud, it is not an edge-of-your-seat drama, because
it is a true story. But it is a well-detailed look into the political
struggle occurring during that period in China, a bit of history
that is often glossed over in the U.S. because of our involvement
in WWII. Excellently researched, excellently directed, excellently
acted. ****½
Copyright
1997 by John R. McEwen and The
Republican
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