Seven years in Tibet -The story of Heinrich Harrer

Seven years in Tibet, I believe is an exceptional movie due to not only a diverse cast that is sure to be mindful of different cultures but also the story of how you may find a true passion for anything in the most unlikely situations. The antagonist Heinrich Harrer (Brad Pitt) is an Austrian mountain climber who is used in multiple Nazi propaganda as he is to lead an expedition to climb Mount Everest and plant the nazi flag to showcase the feats of Germany, but as he and his crew set out for a six-month expedition it turns out to last seven years and as such he soon deserts his expedition to take a “shortcut” which ends up taking him through British India where he is detained and imprisoned because unknown to him World War two has begun and as such any and all Germans in Britain and it’s colonies were to be detained as collaborators. While imprisoned Harrer reunites with a friend of his Peter Aufschnaiter who was also on the same expedition. They both put aside their differences and plan their escape, although it failed at first they both never gave up and eventually escaped. And they were forced to seek refuge in the mountainous nation of Tibet.

While originally refused entry the two disguises themselves and journey to the Tibetan capital of Lhasa and become guests under the Tibetan diplomat Kungo Tsarong and Tibetan senior official Ngawang Jigme the two later befriend the 14th Daila Lama and Heinrich becomes his personal tutor and educates the Daila Lama on the outside world. As time passes and word of Germany’s surrender reaches Heinrich he plans to leave but opts to stay after finding out his son rejects him as his father and his wife divorced him and married his close friend leaving Peter and Heinrich Tibetan citizens. Sadly the peace in Tibet is shaken when Mao Zedong the leader of communist China declares Tibet part of China and invades, destroying Buddhist shrines and Tibetan artifacts as well. Fearing for his safety over his own nation, senior official Jigme surrenders Tibet to China, a move that deeply infuriates Heinrich as they should have fought with all they had. Due to Jigme’s treachery, Heinrich leaves Tibet (now China) and heads back to Austria, while Peter remains with his newlywed wife Pema Lhaki, which forces the Daila Lama to flee to India which is now an independent nation. But the truly saddening part was how the diplomat Ngawang Jigme sabotaged his own nation’s army and surrendered to the Chinese army to save himself from potential execution. Ever since then Tibet has been absorbed into China and has remained so. However this is not the end as many activists have called for a UN investigation of China’s activities regarding the treatment of the Tibetan people and some even call for Tibet to regain its independence, but China is not too eager on giving Tibet independence.