Conrad Rooks' Siddhartha is the English-language classic based on the best-selling novel by the Nobel Prize winner Herman Hesse featuring astonishing cinematography by the great Sven Nykvist. Siddhartha was filmed entirely on location in Northern India, the holy city of Rishikesh, and the private estates as well as in the palaces of His Highness the Maharajah of Bharatpur. The film is absolutely a ravashing visual experience!

Siddhartha is the disarmingly simple story of a young Brahmin, and his search for a meaningful way of life. This search takes him through periods of harsh asceticism, sensual pleasures, material wealth, then self-revulsion and eventually to the oneness and harmony with himself that he had been seeking. Siddhartha learns that the secret of life cannot be passed on from one person to another, but must be achieved through inner experience.

The film was introduced by Conrad Rooks' son Alexander and his widow, Janice also participated to the Rencontre. The director was also a great friend of Dado Ruspoli, the father of Tao who's film Monogamish was screened at the 2015 Rencontre.