Narciso e Boccadoro

In the film, Goldmund's sculptor master tells him how he gave up the true heartfelt art for commercial success... Well, that just about sums up the character of this feature.

Hesse's original novel is not anyway an accurate representation of history, so the film version should be also free from the pressure of historical-accuracy. But the overall presentation, from costumes, make-up, production design, cinematography, and atmosphere, are too much closer to those popular quasi-fantasy costume TV serieses such as the Tudors or Merlin. It is the world viewed through the glamour filter. I mean, such an entertainment has its place, but if that was the aim of the film makers, why did they bother with Hermann Hesse? They could just opt for a fantasy story with magicians and dragon... or something like that.

It's not terrible by all means. A large scale production, OK actors, some beautiful views... But it's ultimately too kitsch to have any true impact.

Spiritual insight can rarely be brought to the screen. Dreyer, Bresson and sometimes Rohmer achieved it, but good though this director is and visually exciting though the film is it is a banal rendering of Hermann Hesse. I do not think any of his books can be brought to the screen because all our visual pictures of his books are different to each person's inner screen: the imagination. The opening music tried to establish a ' religious ' feel and so did the scenery behind it. A brave attempt to attract an audience to Hesse, but sadly in our current era ( certainly in the UK ) this very great author has lost his appeal. Even in the 1970's when he was distorted by ' hippie ' culture and very popular he was distorted. A 4 for the director for trying.

I read the Hesse novel fifty years ago and can no longer remember it. However, whether this beautifully photographed film adheres closely to the original text is not important. The director and his brilliant cinematographer have created a series of scenes that engage the viewer and move effortlessly to the ultimate denouement. Actors, costumes, sets, and music are perfectly combined, and the film's editor never dwells too long on a take. The religious and personal feelings expressed are relevant to different viewers of our time. This little-known film deserves a much larger international audience.

Despite incredibly beautiful cinematography and a great story, the film is not able to transport the emotions of the original book. Some of the main cast is simply not convincing, perhaps there was not the right chemistry with the provenly talented director. Probably more enjoyable for people that don't know the book.

Just watched this movie and need to express my admiration for the costumes, the set design, the casting and the cinematography. The world the the story is set in feels very real while having a very distinguished look and poetic feel to it. Unfortunately everything else is falling a bit flat and tends to get a bit boring and stiff.

I probably would have switched it off half way if the role of Goldmund would not have been cast with such a beautiful (and fortunately mostly lightly dressed) handsome young actor. *sigh* Actually a 5 star movie but adding one for the beauty of the film and one for the sex appeal of the leading role.