How often you search for the complete filmography of a director and ensure you are not missing any of his creativity ? Not very often right ? This happened to me when I saw ' Enemy at the gates '. I made sure that I have to watch ' Seven years in Tibet ' directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud. A director with class in my humble opinion.
The movie is about how the life journey of a mountaineer and of a monk intertwines and founds expression and purpose. This happens in the backdrop of WW2 ! I found it very interesting as it is often very difficult to manage an engaging screenplay without love, action and humour ! Interluding all these elements in this gripping emotional story of 2 hours and 16 minutes really portrays the thirst of the director in the realistic cinema.
This movie is about friendship, patriotism, renunciation, culture and last but not the least the dominative approach of the stronger countries over the weaker nations ! Brad Pitt lived the character of Heinrich Harrer. Dalai Lama's dialogues were very intriguing leaving the audience to a open space of thoughts. Very well enacted by Jamyang Jamtsho Wangchuk.
Some of the conversations were so admirable..
[meeting with the Chinese generals]
Dalai Lama: "Until I attain my majority, the regent is the political leader of Tibet. You should have requested an audience with him to discuss these important matters of the world. My experience of such things is limited. I am a simple Buddhist monk. All I know is the scripture and the words of Lord Buddha. He said, "All beings tremble before danger and death. Life is dear to all. When a man considers this, he does not kill, or cause to kill." You must understand, these words are ingrained in the heart of every Tibetan. It is why we are a peaceful people who reject violence on principle. I pray you will see this as our greatest strength, not our weakness. I thank you for your visit."
In another moment..
Pema Lhaki: This is another great difference between our civilization and yours. You admire the man who pushes his way to the top in any walk of life, while we admire the man who abandons his ego.
Robert Fraisse's cinematography was poetic. Conveys the most complication of the emotions with a single frame. For example, When Heinrich decides to leave Tibet, He visits his friends' home where he was served a cup of butter tea and it was insisted by his friend that Heinrich should be served with another cup of tea.. When Heinrich intends to drink the tea, his friend stops him saying " A fresh cup of tea is poured for the loved ones' departure. It sits untouched waiting for his return ! " - This scene which closes with a frame of the tea cup on focus with Heinrich leaving the plains with his backpack on the backdrop.
Also to mention Robert's spell bounding efforts to capture the initial nail biting mountaineering scenes. I always feel the movie should have a contagious element to it. It should linger in your thoughts at least for a couple of days. Either it can be the story, conversations or cinematography - But it should mark an impact among the audience - irrespective of the blockbuster quotient..
This one is surely an underrated gem which was the need of the hour portraying the ugly side of the politics at that time.
Verdict : Must watch
The movie is about how the life journey of a mountaineer and of a monk intertwines and founds expression and purpose. This happens in the backdrop of WW2 ! I found it very interesting as it is often very difficult to manage an engaging screenplay without love, action and humour ! Interluding all these elements in this gripping emotional story of 2 hours and 16 minutes really portrays the thirst of the director in the realistic cinema.
This movie is about friendship, patriotism, renunciation, culture and last but not the least the dominative approach of the stronger countries over the weaker nations ! Brad Pitt lived the character of Heinrich Harrer. Dalai Lama's dialogues were very intriguing leaving the audience to a open space of thoughts. Very well enacted by Jamyang Jamtsho Wangchuk.
Some of the conversations were so admirable..
[meeting with the Chinese generals]
Dalai Lama: "Until I attain my majority, the regent is the political leader of Tibet. You should have requested an audience with him to discuss these important matters of the world. My experience of such things is limited. I am a simple Buddhist monk. All I know is the scripture and the words of Lord Buddha. He said, "All beings tremble before danger and death. Life is dear to all. When a man considers this, he does not kill, or cause to kill." You must understand, these words are ingrained in the heart of every Tibetan. It is why we are a peaceful people who reject violence on principle. I pray you will see this as our greatest strength, not our weakness. I thank you for your visit."
In another moment..
Pema Lhaki: This is another great difference between our civilization and yours. You admire the man who pushes his way to the top in any walk of life, while we admire the man who abandons his ego.
Robert Fraisse's cinematography was poetic. Conveys the most complication of the emotions with a single frame. For example, When Heinrich decides to leave Tibet, He visits his friends' home where he was served a cup of butter tea and it was insisted by his friend that Heinrich should be served with another cup of tea.. When Heinrich intends to drink the tea, his friend stops him saying " A fresh cup of tea is poured for the loved ones' departure. It sits untouched waiting for his return ! " - This scene which closes with a frame of the tea cup on focus with Heinrich leaving the plains with his backpack on the backdrop.
Also to mention Robert's spell bounding efforts to capture the initial nail biting mountaineering scenes. I always feel the movie should have a contagious element to it. It should linger in your thoughts at least for a couple of days. Either it can be the story, conversations or cinematography - But it should mark an impact among the audience - irrespective of the blockbuster quotient..
This one is surely an underrated gem which was the need of the hour portraying the ugly side of the politics at that time.
Verdict : Must watch
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