Old school casualism
‘Seven Years in Tibet’ is one of those films which you watch when you initially start watching Hollywood movies and boast of how Brad Pitt has acted so differently and action heroes here do only routine stuff. In that way it works terrifically well. Because it’ll be considered a different movie as it doesn’t fall under the usual category of keeping one hooked throughout the movie. One criterion by which everyone starts to watch a Hollywood movie. But this too does the same, even though it doesn’t appear like it, there is underlying curiosity throughout the movie, that’s why anyone could watch the movie.
Heinrich Harrer (Brad Pitt) is an Austrian mountaineer who goes on an expedition to Nanga Parbat. He’s young, raw and full of attitude so it was fun to see him on screen. Also, a respite from other spiritual films which would focus so much on one’s inner self, self-enlightenment etc. Here all these do happen but not in a usual way where one tries to sacrifice everything and lead a spiritual life. But in a more practical way. In a way it’s a traveler’s fantasy. May be that’s why I couldn’t hate the film personally. I’d ideally be like Harrer in the story. He’s a great loser, scales the peak, gets to be friends with Dalai Lama, lives in an unknown place for years and finally gets reunited with son. What more would a man want in his life.
The whole film is romanticized to a great extent so when he breaks the leg in the mountain or struggles in the POW camp, it doesn’t really hit us as hard as it ought to be. But its evident that the makers didn’t want to have a film which would make people cringe so they took easy on the making and concentrated on the story line. Anyways, for any trekker, the first few minutes in Nanga Parbat would be a truly exhilarating experience. Also Brad Pitt’s charm is so infectious, be it with broken leg, in prison or in an unknown land. It’s difficult to hate him. May be that’s why he’s a superstar.
When they get into Tibet, it didn’t turn out to be as spiritual as I expected. It just feels like a Jackie Chan escapade so its fun. Further it ends up great for him and his friend Aufschnaiter (David Thewlis) who gets a hot thing as wife and settles outside the civilization. Lucky him. Meanwhile Harrer gets to be friends with Dalai Lama and build him a movie theatre and educate him on various aspects of the world. Next to the Nanga Parbat, that was the best part of the film. The first-time interaction between the two especially where he asks howdy with such boyish grin was treat to watch.
With passage of time, we see Harrer as a different man but not like typical spiritual films where he transforms totally. But only in a way where he looks at life differently. Accepts his past and moves on. The practicality in that aspect worked really well for the movie. If the director had tried to make it look artistic it’d have ended up as something plasticky. Good that he didn’t over indulge and spoil the movie.
‘Seven Years in Tibet’ isn’t really an unmissable film but works as a good time pass when you’ve nothing else to do. At least it’ll be a precursor to learn history.
constantscribbles 