Original Soundtrack - The Last Emperor (CD 1987)

I fess up..I am a movie soundtrack junkie! I'm out and proud.

This film was so stunning and the first and only one to get permission to film in the Forbidden City with a cast of thousands.

Peter O Tool is well cast as the very stiff british tutor typical of the age and was sent to teach Pu Yi the last of the emperor's of China. It was very sad in a way because Pu Yi was a virtual prisoner in what had become a beautiful fortress.

The film focuses on Pu Yi's life, his loves, and his misguided collaborations with the Japanese in World War 2 for which he spent many years in a chinese prison.

The music IS evocative and beautifully haunting bringing many images of old Japan running through the imagination, if you like all things oriental than you won't go wrong with the soundtrack and the film.

Also try the film AND the soundtrack from Seven Years in Tibet with solo cello by Yo Yo Ma and vocals by Tibetan Yellow Hat monks to make your hair stand on end! I also enjoyed the film Kundun.

Kundun is about the life and upbringing of the now Dali Lama to teenage years (Martin Scorsese).
Seven Years in Tibet is about the mountain climber Heinrich Harrer who also became a teacher to the now teenage Dali Lama. The story focuses on the special relationship forged between the two and the dreadfull invasion of Tibet by the Chinese in the 50s resulting in the smothering of the Tibetan culture and religion, the films follow on from one anouther very nicely. Brad Pitt looked the part and did very well coping with an odd sort of German accent while David Thewlis was fab as his more gentle climbing partner. Very loosely based on the book but films have to add and take out much.. to get you hooked.

I have all the books written by Heinrich Harrer and 'Return to Tibet' is a must for the continuing saga.

If you like mountain climbing then Harrer's famous book The White Spider is well worth a read.



Regards, Sandy.