Tibet Is a 1997 Film That Recounts

¶ … Tibet is a 1997 film that recounts Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer's experiences at the onset of World War II and through to the Chinese occupation of Tibet. In the film, religion and politics are intrinsically intertwined, which are two causes for discontent among Tibetans and their Chinese neighbors. In Seven Years in Tibet, religion plays a major political role and also serves to enlighten Harrer about the things that truly matter in life. In The Wisdom of Faith, Hustom Smith contends, "Among the most important things to know about a people in order to communicate effectively with them and to develop mutual respect and appreciation are certainly their religious beliefs and practices." Through his relationship with the Dalai Lama, Harrer is able to find the guidance he desperately lacked in his and come to terms with the person he is and the relationship he has with other people.

The beginning of the film is set in 1939 as Harrer embarks on a hiking expedition to the north of India. During their expedition, World War II breaks out, and as German citizens, they are detained by the British, who at the time still governed India. Because of their citizenship, Harrer and his companion, Peter Aufschnaiter, are declared prisoners of war. Despite Harrer's many attempts to try and successfully escape, he is unable to do so on his own; Harrer's escape finally comes in 1944 when Aufschnaiter includes him in his escape plans. Harrer's actions and attitudes up to this point reflect his impulsivity, lack of guidance, and his need for discipline. After escaping, Harrer and Aufschnaiter set out towards the Tibetan border, independently only to reunite and find their safe haven together (Seven Years in Tibet). Harrer's solo journey tests his spirit and his will; after he is reunited with Aufschnaiter, the audience begins to see him care about someone besides himself as he risks his life to help Aufschaiter survive the harsh Tibetan climate and roadside thieves. It is during their stay in Tibet that allows Harrer to accept other people's beliefs, which helped him to become a better person.

In the film, religion plays a major political role because Tibet was governed by a religious leader. Moreover, Tibet was an extremely closed community; there were no foreigners allowed in Tibet due to a fear that allowing them to enter into the city would signal an end to their peaceful empire. Just as Harrer and Aufschnaiter were foreigners to the city, they were also foreign to the religion of the region. As Harrer is later informed, Tibetans value humility, as opposed to the Germans who are very egotistical and concerned with their accomplishments. Little by little, Harrer begins to learn Tibetan doctrines and beliefs, which is further facilitated by his close relationship with the young Dalai Lama who looks to Harrer as a father figure and teacher ("Seven Years In Tibet"). As Harrer begins to understand and identify the things that matter most to him in his life, he begins to understand the tranquility that is found in Buddhism and begins to understand the importance of a balance between impulse and restraint, which ultimately allow him to reconnect with his son at the end of the film.