They say that home is where the heart is and that quote has rarely rang more true than when applied to the character of Heidi. The 1880 children's novel remains a beloved classic over a century after its initial publication and has gone on to inspire dozens of adaptations film adaptations. One of the lesser known, but arguably one of the best, of these adaptations of the novel is Disney's 1993 television miniseries. This adaptation faithfully recounts the beloved tale of one girl's journey to find her home with an authenticity, sincerity, and beauty that ensure it more than earns it's place on the shelf and in the hearts of the whole family.
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| "It is good to be on the mountain; body and soul get well there" |
The story begins with infant Heidi's parents storming off following a heated argument with her grandfather. Shortly after, she is orphaned when her parents are killed in a tragic accident. The story then flashes ahead five years and reveals that Heidi has been living with her cousin Dete while her grandfather has lived in seclusion in the mountains. When she is offered a lucrative position in the city, Dete decides that she has shouldered the burden of Heidi's care long enough. She brings the little girl to the Alps to live with her grandfather, despite his reputation as a reclusive madman. Her grandfather is initially resentful of Heidi and sees her presence as a painful reminder of his own guilt and bitterness. Over time, however, the child's innocence and kindness prove infectious not just to her grandfather but to their entire community. Similarly, the liberation and inspiration of the mountains work their own magic and heal Heidi's loss and loneliness. Just as the unlikely duo begin to build a new life for themselves, however, Dete returns and upends Heidi's life yet again. She forces her young cousin to take a position working as a companion to a disabled young girl in Frankfurt. The confines of city living soon take a toll on Heidi and leave her a quiet, conventional, shadow of her former self. Will Heidi ever return to her beloved mountain and if she does will it still be the home that she remembers?
Disney's adaptation of Heidi sets itself apart from other adaptations ironically by being the least 'Disney-ified' telling of the classic tale. While other adaptations have resorted to a sugary sweetness that has made Heidi pop-culture shorthand for sentimentality, the miniseries refuses to shy away from the darker aspects of the original novel. Rather than an plucky orphan in the style of Annie or Pollyanna, Heidi is instead a kind, but still frightened and wounded, child struggling with loss and repeated abandonment. As a result, she is a heroine young viewers will relate to as well as root for. Similarly, rather than just a grouch, her grandfather is a man tormented by a guilt, bitterness, and regret that have driven him into a deep depression. The journey that both undergo as they learn to open themselves up to not just one another but also the wider world is nothing short of inspiring. Even the supporting characters undergo emotional transformations as Klara is forced to confront her insecurities and possessiveness and Peter must come to terms with the wider world beyond the safe familiarity of his isolated village. As a result this Heidi is less a moralistic aspirational tale than a complex coming of age story. Discover the beauty and wonder of the Alps and maybe even yourself along the way with Heidi.
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| "The happiest of all things is when an old friend comes and greets us" |
The miniseries transports viewers to the majesty of the Alps thanks to the work of its cast. Jane Hazelgrove perfectly captures the callousness of Heidi's selfish cousin, Dete. Jane Seymour makes for a formidable, but all too human, villain as Klara's overly protective governess, Fraulein Rottenmeier. Sian Phillips infuses Klara's grandmother, Frau Sesemann with gentleness and warmth. Benjamin Brazier personifies boy next door charm as Heidi's best friend, Peter. Patricia Neal lends humor and wit to her turn as Peter's grandmother. Lexi Randall aptly portrays Klara's loneliness and insecurity. Jason Robards is the ultimate curmudgeon with a heart of gold as Heidi's gruff but loving grandfather. Noely Thornton shines in a portrayal of Heidi that avoids becoming saccharine through a unique blend of earnestness, quiet strength, and empathy.
1993's
Heidi is certain to delight fans of the original novel and newcomers to the Alpine adventure alike. The script relates Johanna Spyri's beloved novel with sincerity and authenticity without veering into sugary sentimentality. The performances bring the familiar characters to colorful life and the filming locations in the Austrian Alps are nothing short of majestic. Escape the hustle and bustle of modern living with
Heidi.
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| The hills are alive... |
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