Heidi

Overall this is our favorite version of Heidi in film. We purchased it and extra copies of the novel for gifts. Our family watched this movie anticipating the same cutesy antics and departures from the novel as before but were surprised to find this one quite close to the book. It is a bit more somber than the book in my view but this adds a real 19th century feel anyway. Emma Bolger plays Heidi with enough childlike charm, her shining eyes and sweet grin helped me forgive a few tiny flaws in her young acting. Max Von Sydow plays Grandfather immaculately with the right amount of grumpiness and compassion. The best performance I think is Del Synott as Sebastian the butler! The only thing I wish the director would have done differently is to spend more time on Heidi's enjoyment in the pastures. I recommend watching this movie then going back to the read the book once again if it has been awhile. It is a truly heartwarming story.

To keep this short & succinct: An awesome retelling of Spyri's novel, with minor deviations from the original story.

This (Paul Marcus' 2005) version of 'Heidi' starts with a gripping psychological intensity which it maintains throughout the duration of the film. To some degree this intensity is conveyed by the excellent shot composition evident during the entirety of the production, which masterfully captures both the geographic & emotional context of the narrative. The main credit however must go to Emma Bolger, whom I can only describe as a true prodigy of her craft.

One would expect fine performances from such practised professionals as Rigg, Chaplin & von Sydow, but it is only when the final credits roll that it becomes apparent how stunning Bolger's performance really is. This is a film where one does not need to suspend disbelief in order to be enveloped & caught up by the narrative, instead it is a truly superb synthesis of cast & crew working harmoniously to produce something truly valuable.

Do yourself a favour & see for yourself.

Naturally, there have to be changes when a book is made into a film. But traditionally most of the alterations are cuts made either by taking out minor characters or shortening a long scene or a series of scenes. But in this film they actually added a few things that make no sense at all. Whoever had the idea of making the grandfather come into the village to sell his cheese obviously does not know anything about him. This man does not wish any contact with the people who despise and malign him. And where would he get all that cheese from 2 measly goats?

Another problem is Miss Rottenmeier. Of all the Heidi films I have seen, only the Shirley Temple version presented her as really bad. In most of the others as well as in the book she was just very strict and did not even try to understand the child. However, in this movie she seems quite nasty and full of hate.

One of the reviewers commented on Heidi's hair, and I have to agree. No child of that day would have been allowed to have her hair hanging around so untidily.

While the Alpine locations are beautiful, the fancy neighborhood in Frankfurt is definitely a poor choice. From the windows of the elegant Sesemann house one looks at several dilapidated buildings with plaster coming off the walls in huge slabs.

All in all, in spite of these shortcomings, I'm giving the movie 7 stars, mostly for the writer Johanna Spyri and to the mountain scenery.

None of the five adaptations I've seen of the classic Heidi are bad, though neither are quite perfect. Despite the too-low rating this adaptation was excellent, though the part where the grandfather goes to the village seemed contradictory to his character and part of you wishes that Max Von Sydow had more to do. Even with some changes, in detail and spirit Heidi(2005) is the most faithful. It doesn't feel over-dramatic like the Noley Thornton version did- which still had a lot of engaging things- and none of it was mean-spirited or too dark, yes even with the slightly crueler characterisations of Fraulein Rottenmeier and Aunt Dete. The characters are true to the book like the delightful Shirley Temple version(which had the most accurate depiction of Fraulein Rottenmeier), treating the characters of the grandfather and Clara sympathetically like the Noley Thornton version didn't really. But at the same time it doesn't fall into the trap of making those like Fraulein Rottenmeier too nice like the 1968 adaptation with Jean Simmons(also a very well-done version) did. Heidi(2005) has a lot going for it, it looks lovely with very attractive photography, authentic period detail and mountain scenery that is a wonder. The music is unobtrusive and matches the pacing of the adaptation very well while not dragging. The script has a pleasant mixture of funny, intelligent and poignant, with you relating every step of the way with Heidi and her life and conflict. The story even with the slow pacing captures the feel of the book just beautifully, it was very heart-warming(particularly in the relationships between the characters), had a lot of charm and the dramatic parts were genuinely touching and never too dark. All the key elements are there and with the right impact. The ending as you'd expect for Heidi is very emotional. The direction allows the story to resonate yet doesn't make it to be stillborn. Emma Bolger is a highly engaging Heidi, like Shirley Temple she was charming and funny and just as photogenic while capable of an emotional range that made her performance moving too. Max Von Sydow is perfect also as the grandfather with a distinctively stoic presence, showing the grandfather's journey from gruff and reclusive to much more loving and warm, the only actor playing this character to do so completely successfully. Geraldine Chaplin's Fraulein Rottenmeier is genuinely beastly(if crueler than you'd expect), which allowed for Heidi's conflict with her to have its tension, likewise with Pauline McLynn's Aunt Dete. Diana Rigg sparkles in the affectingly noble role of the grandmother, and the compassionate Clara of Jessica Claridge also impresses(Peter too is believable). In fact all the acting is fine. Overall, an excellent adaptation. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Well done version of the classic story of the orphaned young girl, Heidi (played by Emma Bolger), sent to live with her hermit grandfather in his cabin away up high in the Swiss Alps. Grandfather is an unwelcoming, gruff old man, but he very soon takes a real shine to sweet little Heidi - and Heidi takes to her new environment like a duck to water. Sadly for both, she is soon swept away by her unkind/greedy aunt to live with a rich Frankfurt household as the playmate of a wheelchair-bound girl named Clara - but lively young Heidi soon adds some spark of life to the whole house, much to the chagrin of the meanie housekeeper, a really nasty woman in black who rules the roost with an iron fist.

I have seen a number of filmed versions of this story, I found this version to be one of the best. All the actors are perfectly cast in this, I really think Max von Sydow is *the* perfect choice for the grandfather in this story and Geraldine Chaplin is suitably despicable in her portrayal of the housekeeper. Emma Bolger is an adorable and charming young actress who gives a very endearing performance, just as she does in her memorable portrayal of Ariel in the film "In America". The mountain scenery in this film is very atmospheric and gorgeously photographed, the orchestral score is really wonderful. An especially lovely and heartfelt family film, full of charm. Recommended.