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Rating:  - Lovely cinematography doesn't save a poor adaptation
Director Conrad Rooks was something of a sensation in the 1970's, the son of the Avon cosmetics empire and an alcoholic by the age of 15, he also spent a number of years in India and taught himself film-making. Besides his autobiographical 1966 movie, Chappaqua, his adaptation of Herman Hesse's Siddhartha was his one and only cinematic achievement. Today he is largely forgotten. As of this writing he doesn't even have an entry in Wikipedia.
But Siddhartha lives on as a literary classic and as a result the film is still sought out by loyal and often fanatical fans of the book. A quarter century later it is still a visually beautiful film, one that can impress, especially on a large screen, with its panoramic shots. Brooks knew India and his familiarity with the place shines through in the film.
The acting is not bad, but on occasion overdone, such as the boatman's homilies delivered in a patronizingly saccharine voice. The script is occasionally clunky, lifting bits straight from the book, and in parts the story seems a bit rushed. The middle section - in which Siddhartha meets Kamala, moves to town, and becomes a local businessman - has the most natural and unhurried flow. Two decades on the sex scenes are not unsurprisingly tame - and occasionally comical (such as Siddhartha's first orgasm).
The biggest problem with the film is that it leaves out what is for me one of the most meaningful observations of Siddhartha's life, that his time as a husband and father, as a property owner and businessman, was not wasted time. On the contrary, he could not have arrived at enlightenment without having experienced a life of sensual pleasure - and despair. As Siddhartha tells his friend Govinda many years later:
"I learned through my body and soul that it was necessary for me to sin, that I needed lust, that I had to strive for property and experience nausea and the depths of despair in order to learn not to resist them, in order to learn to love the world, and no longer compare it with some kind of desired imaginary world, some imaginary vision of perfection, but to leave it as it is, to love it and be glad to belong to it."
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Rating:  - Read the book first!
I have read the book and recommend that anyone that gets this movie first read the book. I find its a great compliment to this movie.
The movie also is very true to the book.
I enjoyed the movie very much and was very impressed that it has been out for so many years.
Rating:  - Badly made movie and killed the essence of the book
I had read Siddhartha at least 20 times. It is one of the most inspiring books of our times. I was really looking forward to this move. It is the worst movie with absolutely no emotions. Incase you love this book please never watch the movie you will regret it.
Rating: - Siddhartha
Different version of events around Buddha's life, this version has the main actor (Shashi Kapoor), as a Brahman first becoming a Siddhu (holy man), then renouncing it for love, wealth and comfort. Ends up becoming a ferry-man who believes everything returns. Very average caste as per previous comments. Wonderful scenery & singing. Film based on the novel of the same name by Herman Hesse. Wait til you can get movie for $5 special.
Rating: - Read the Book First . . .but don't miss this film!
Read the book first, but don't miss this film!
This film does not fully depict the growth of Siddhartha over time, but it does depict an India that is no longer there. Plus! The music and song used in the film does very much to add flavor to the film. For example, there is an actual group of blind, roving singers that were used in the film that made their living thru song. Cinematography is excellent as well. (Many of the scenes were filmed on a Raja's private preserves that are not open to the public eye.
The story abridgement is disquieting especially since the film is so short (less than 90 minutes) an additional half hour could have made a great difference in fleshing out Siddhartha. This should have been a 2½ hour film.
All said however, I do not regret buying the DVD. I have been searching and waiting for its re-release since 1971. In the theatre in 1971, I was so moved by the music that my eyes were teary with an inner joy that I had never experienced before or since. A MUST SEE!
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