7 Years in Tibet

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thanking Aufschnaiter for his friendship. In the city of Lhasa, we also see Harrer respectfully kowtowing to the Dalai Lama, doing everything as he was told to, maybe even overdoing it a bit. Compare this to the behavior of the Chinese generals, who refused to sit lower than the Dalai Lama and ruined a sand mandala made from days of work, and we see that Harrer has become more culturally sensitive. This change in him made him kinder and more understanding, and therefore able to blend in with the Tibetans more easily. The Tibetans no longer saw him as an outsider to be feared or driven away, but rather one of their own, albeit with a different appearance. This, plus his friendship with the Dalai Lama, allowed Harrer to be able to associate with many of the citizens and even begin working in the city.

Seven Years in Tibet, based on the book by Heinrich Harrer, tells the story of an Austrian man who travelled to Tibet during World War II. Heinrich leaves his pregnant wife to climb a mountain in the Himalayas with Peter Aufschnaiter and some others. Due to an avalanche, the team head back to base, where they are arrested by British soldiers and sent to a prison camp in India. Here, Harrer receives a letter from his wife containing divorce papers and some news about his son. Harrer and Aufschnaiter escape from the prison and head for Tibet, where they are turned away by Tibetans telling them that no foreigners are allowed. Upon trying to force their way into the country, they are escorted to the Indian border, but manage to flee their guards at a market. The two then journey to the holy city of Lhasa, blending in with a group of pilgrims. Once in Lhasa, they are invited to stay at Kungo Tsarong’s house, and a tailor sent by Ngawang Jigme comes in to measure them. Both Harrer and Aufschnaiter take a liking to the tailor, Pema Lhaki, but in the end Aufschnaiter wins her over. Meanwhile, the young Dalai Lama asks Harrer to teach him about western society. Later, during Jigme’s promotion party, the four of them hear about China’s plan to invade Tibet. That same night, the Dalai Lama has a dream that the Chinese destroyed his birth city, which turns out to be true. Following this, three Chinese generals fly to Lhasa to speak with the Dalai Lama, but end up leaving in contempt, stating that “religion is poison”. Jigme is sent to fight off the Chinese at Chamdo, but eventually surrenders and blows up Tibetan ammunition, preventing any chance of guerillas continuing the fight and possibly saving Tibet. Harrer returns the clothes Ngawang Jigme had paid for as an insult, angry at him for failing the country. Soon, the 15-year-old Dalai Lama is enthroned. Harrer decides to return to Austria to meet his son as the Chinese army advances on Tibet, and the Dalai Lama gives Harrer a music box as a parting gift. This gift is then given to Harrer’s son, who initially refused to meet him. At the end of the movie, we see Harrer and his son climbing up a mountain, and a Tibetan flag planted