Two-time director Conrad Rooks (known for his autobiographical drug-addiction opus of 1966, Chappaqua), helms this big-screen adaptation of Hermann Hesse's novel, about an Indian youth who leaves his family in search of life's meaning. The film sports location photography by Bergman associate Sven Nykvist, and a cast comprised largely of unknowns. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Apologies to Conrad Rooks, but the only reason his 1972 film, Siddhartha, is getting a 30th-anniversary rerelease is the appeal of seeing Sven Nykvist's amazing cinematography restored to its full splendor.
Rather than living on as reminder of India in the early 1900s, the film now exists as a period piece of another sort, namely, as a cult film of the psychedelic era.
Its visual beauty is compelling and its emotions are kindled from within, as it takes off from the source of its literary roots and becomes a pure cinematic experience.
In the end, Siddhartha the movie fails in its attempt to explore and question and meditate. You can't be meditative while running through a field and leaping over foxholes.
Beautiful scenery. A lonely quest. Hermann Hesse's novel brought to cinema. There was one scene where the main characters were traveling in a band of singing wanderers, and the music was joyful sounding. The rest aside, that was worth watching the whole movie for.
A tragedy in comparison to its novel source, the acting was limited, unemotional, and ineffective. The storyline was cut-up, difficult to follow, and put to a bare minimum. I strongly recommend the book for finding Hess' spiritual message and staying away from this movie.
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