In 1939, Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer embarks on a solo expedition to the Himalayas, leaving his family behind. However, the outbreak of World War II leads to his capture by Allied forces, and he becomes a prisoner of war. Determined to regain his freedom, Harrer escapes alongside a fellow captive and journeys to Lhasa, Tibet. There, he encounters the young 14-year-old Dalai Lama, whose friendship profoundly changes Harrer’s perspective on life.