Half-way up the mountain

Rating: 7/10 (26 February 2003)

The scenary's the real star of Seven Years in Tibet: the film begins with some excellent mountain climbing sequences, and the bleak but gorgeous Himalayan skyscape looms high above all subsequent action. But Brad Pitt, in the lead role, is as wooden as his accent, with none of the charisma he later showed in Fight Club, though David Thewlis is predictably excellent as his companion. Unfortunately, the film's depiction of Tibetan society seems idealised; and most crucially, the everyday reality of life in Tibet for the German mountaineers is dealt with only sketchily, in spite of the film's great length and in spite of the fact that it's this that underpins the development of the characters throughout the story. But the story itself is good (and tragic); and the film gets enough right to make you want to know more about the land and its history. This isn't a great movie; but still worth watching.