La piedra blanca

This exquisite series was shown in Australia, with English subtitles supplied by the national broadcaster, somewhere about 1982, entitled 'The White Stone'. The scenery, the script, the acting, the soundtrack were all particularly fine. My daughter was entranced, even at the age of 5, as I read the subtitles to her. So far superior to the raucous, aggressive, shallow, unimaginative and impoverished clichés generally offered to children. The grace and serenity and compassion were absorbed by my daughter through languages other than verbal. If only we could purchase this on DVD. Even an old video would be treasured. I am sure children all over the world,and their parents, would be enriched by this wonderful work, and if it could be sub-titled, so much the better. The Australian Broadcasting Commission, which showed the series on its multicultural network, then Channel 28, now SBS, may have archived the sub-titles.They do their own, and have translating services etc..

If all children could watch this instead of violent Manga-crap and Teenage mutant ninja morons - we would have a better world. The main characters are brilliant. The story is simple yet so exciting and important in the eyes of a child. Nice music. It was probably a low-budget production but it really works. Mention "The white stone" to a swede and he or she will be touched to the heart and react with a smile and an expression of a distant warm memory. "Hampus" was my idol and "Fideli" my first love. Even adults can watch this and share a beautiful moment with their children. It is absolutely fantastic and it will leave a memory in the child that will last a lifetime.

As an adult, I might not be the one to judge among children's and youngster's TV shows. But I saw this twice as a kid in the 70-s, and I still rate this amazingly beautiful, sweet-natured and highly entertaining show as possibly Sweden's best ever in the genre (be it for "Ebba & Didrik")!

Of course it's the loving friendship between Fideli and Hampus in 1930s Sweden that really matters as the whole theme of the show, including the Romeo & Juliet-style of difference in social class backgrounds. But the ingenious story of the oath of the White Stone that the two swear, is timeless and nothing short of fantastic in its simplicity. There's not a false note or moment to be seen - with flawless acting and an equally touching piano music theme to match.

So, watch and cry. Watch and laugh. Watch and marvel what a good script (based on a children's book) that doesn't require today's special effect dependency, can do! How to paint a face on the town's church tower clock, for example!

10 out of 10 from me

Born in 1968, I remember seeing this series somewhere in the seventies on Dutch TV.

It kept me awake at night. Not because it was creepy. It was one of those series you remember all your life.

At 40, I can't remember anything about the story, but somehow I can't get this series out of my head. As a young boy I was fascinated about the blond girl with the white stone, her face that had no emotion on it

I loved the beautiful music and probably depressing story.

It is great that this series probably was aired around the globe. Good to read that I am not the only one on this planet that remembers this.

If this goes on DVD I'll buy it straight away. Hopefully with Dutch or English subtitles.

Thank you for posting this information; I was around ten when I saw something on TV in Scotland about 1975 it to mesmerised me. I think it had a profound and positive effect on the rest of my life. I however have never been able to find it. The only thing I could remember was something about a white stone as in the movie the boy and girl keep exchanging this stone as a game or token of love. Now that this has been posted and I believe have found it I now know the name of the move. It has bothered me that all this time I have never been able to find this wonderful movie from my childhood and hope it can be found and seen by others. I would like to say that this movie should be seen by anyone who has a love of childhood be it memories of there own childhood or own children's or any other for that mater.