Seven Years in Tibet

Why must you be this way?

Why must you be this way?

Why is there always a problem? It's a good question.

Do you want to go home? Do you want to turn around?

- Yes! - It's the Himalayas!

How long have I been talking about the Himalayas?

- How long? - Far too long.

Horst, when we get there, can you give me a hand, please?

- Yes, of course. - Ingrid, stop it.

Let's try to make the best of this.

Where's this idiot who's supposed to meet us?

Move!

Mr. Harrer.

I have your tickets.

- I'm late. Take me to my train. - No, you don't understand.

I am Peter Aufschnaiter. I am leading the expedition.

- How do you do? - Here's our celebrity!

Mr. Harrer?

May I say, Mr. Harrer, on behalf of the Reichssportsfuhrer...

we are honored to have such a great German hero on the team.

Thank you, but I'm Austrian.

Yes, but I'm sure that as a distinguished member...

of the National Socialist Party, you would be proud to plant...

our country's flag on the summit of Nanga Parbat when you reach it.

Hans Lobenhoffer.

Lutz Chicken.

And a picture with your lovely wife.

And Mr...

Horst Immendorf. Family friend. No picture necessary.

When is the little one due, Mrs. Harrer?

About the time my husband reaches the base camp.

Thank you.

Why don't you tell the entire stinking country our troubles?

I'm getting on that train. Do you have anything you want to say?

Fine.

Go. Leave.

I'll see you in four months.

- Take good care of her, Horst. - I will, Heinrich.

We will travel 5,000 miles.

When we reach India, we will head for the Himalayas...

and the ninth highest peak on Earth, Nanga Parbat.

Germany calls it "Unserberg... Our Mountain. "

Before us, four German expeditions attempted it.

All failed.

Eleven climbers were killed in storms and avalanches.

By now, the conquest of Nanga Parbat is a national obsession...

a matter of German pride.

July 29, 1939.

We have already made Camp Four at 22,000 feet.

Overhead is the Rekiak Glacier and a difficult climb up the icefall.

The baby must be at least one month old now.

I have been so confused and distracted.

I can't climb with my usual confidence.

Are you all right?

Shit!

- Are you all right? - Shall we come down?

Lost a crampon!

Go ahead!

The weather's getting bad. We should rope up.

- Did you hurt yourself back there? - Just a scratch. I'll lead.

Rocks!

Look out below!

Hold me!

Have you got me?

Hold me!

You should have told me how bad that wound was.

I should take a look at it. I could sew it up.

It's not your problem.

Actually, it is my problem.

- It's my life. - What?

When you conceal a serious injury and put my life at risk...

I consider that my problem.

No, you put your life at risk. I saved it, so shut up!

Please, it is not your place...

Shut up!

The next time you lie about an injury, Heinrich...

you're off the team.

Try it.

August 4th, Camp Five. Some fierce storms have passed.

My teammates are nervous about the avalanches...

so we've been holed up for days.

Aufschnaiter should take advantage of this lowland weather to make high camp.

But he disagrees with me. Fool.

It seems the others don't mind sitting here waiting...

hoping, doing nothing.

So much time to question one's self is not good.

I am beginning to think this whole expedition was a mistake.

Run! Avalanche! Get out!

Leave everything!

Put that down!

We are going down now!

If they're frightened of a storm, send them down to Camp Two.

I could summit on my own! Always give the best man his shot!

He's trying to tell us he's the best man.

Give me two Sherpas. I can make Camp Six by tonight...

and my final attack tomorrow!

- We are going down now as a team! - I've earned that peak!

- I want that peak! - As a team! That's an order!

That is an order! An order!

Follow me!

Dalai Lama photo. Good protection.

Take it, Si Hib. It will protect you.

No, that means nothing to me.

Dalai Lama. Dalai Lama photo.

Si Hib, take it.

Good protection for you.

Good afternoon, Herr Harrer.

Good afternoon, Herr Harrer.

Well, let's hope that Germany retreats from Poland...

as quickly as you did from your mountain.

It might save you some prison time.

What is this? Who are you?

- I'm sorry, but you're under arrest. - What charge? Failure to summit?

I'm afraid not.

You see, war has been declared between His Majesty's Government and Germany.

So all enemy aliens on British Empire soil are now prisoners of war.

- Stop, or I'll shoot! - Hands up!

No, you don't understand! I'm Austrian! I'm a climber!

I have nothing to do with your silly war!

I can walk myself. This is an insult!

You think you have the last word, but you don't!

Pigs! All of you, pigs!

October 15, 1939.

Reaching prison camp, I make a promise to myself.

I will be lying beside Ingrid before the summer solstice of the new year.

The Himalayas are right in front of us.

It will be easy to escape and get lost in them.

My fourth escape attempt brings me no closer to my goal.

How far did you get this time?

All I have achieved is a certain dubious celebrity among the prisoners.

If only my hand could express what is in my heart.

I hear the guards are mailing letters for you.

Yes.

Would you mail these?

Thank you.

Hey, Heinrich, have you read this book?

It was checked out to you.

- We need to talk to you. - What about?

About this.

Impressive. When do you plan to leave?

After monsoon season. And you?

I see you've chosen my route through Tibet.

The few foreigners who have tried never came back. So, good luck.

- Would you like to come with us? - Why?

After all, you are the authority on jailbreak around here.

- We could benefit from your experience. - Please.

Stop this embarrassing charade.

Every time you escape, the patrols are doubled and tripled.

It is making life very difficult for the rest of us.

I prefer to travel on my own, but thanks for thinking of me.

The mailman has come.

Dear Heinrich:

Please sign the enclosed divorce papers and send them to my lawyer.

Horst and I intend to be married as soon as the divorce is finalized.

As for your letter, yes.

Your son, Rolf Harrer, was born while you were climbing the mountain.

He is now two years old and calls Horst "papa."

When he is old enough, I will tell him...

his real father was lost in the Himalayas.

It seems the kindest thing to say considering...

you never wanted the child anyway.

Needless to say, I have no intention...

of "resolving our differences" as you suggested.

They were resolved the moment you left Austria.

I'm sorry you have been imprisoned in India...

and hope this dreadful war will soon be over for everyone's sake.

Ingrid.

I'm coming with you.

This is your plan?

In my humble opinion, this is ridiculous.

Then since you are so humble, we won't ask your opinion.

Open the charts. Turn around.

Keep your back to the gate. Open the charts!

Keep talking. Wait for my signal.

We are clear. Okay.

Open the gates!

See to this. Open the gates!

I'm going off on my own.

So, good luck.

First escape from prison camp, November 18, 1939.

Rolf Harrer... three and a half months old.

My 30th birthday, July 6, 1941.

Rolf Harrer... exactly one year, 11 months and 26 days.

Last escape from Dehra Dun. Rolf Harrer...

Take two and sleep it off. I'll send you a bill in the morning.

What are you doing here?

I missed you so much. I thought I'd pay you a visit.

What about the others?

The Italians were caught outside Nelang.

Lutz and Hans got sick and had to turn back.

- Sorry to hear that. - I'm sure you're heartbroken.

May I impose upon your generous nature and camp here tonight?

Be my guest.

Thank you. It is very gracious of you.

- Good. - What else do you have in there?

A ten-piece orchestra?

By the way, I heard the Japanese have retreated...

all the way back to Shanghai so even if you make it to the Chinese border...

you may have difficulty catching up with them.

I don't care if they're repelled all the way back to Tokyo.