Heidi
(2017/Studiocanal/Omnibus DVD)
Picture:
B Sound: B Extras: D Film: A
Orphaned
at a young age, Heidi (Anuk
Steffen) is sent to live with her grandfather in the Swiss Alps.
There she quickly befriends all animals and people, falling in love
with life in the snow-capped mountains and beautiful green valleys.
Just as suddenly she arrived, she is suddenly ripped away to live in
the city as a companion to a wealthy heiress Klara, whom she quickly
befriends, charms and dazzles all she meets, but she longs and misses
her grandfather and longs to return to the mountains that she loves.
Alain
Gsponer's Heidi (2017) is a classic tale of a young girl
raised in the beautiful and lush Swiss Alps, she is wild and carefree
but what sets her aside is her sweet innocence, love for nature,
people and how she remains un-corrupted by the world. At first, she
was reluctantly adopted by her recluse grandfather, but she quickly
melts his heart of stone and for the first time in years he begins to
live life again. She is however suddenly sold off by her aunt to
live in the city and be a companion for a wealth girl, Klara who is
wheelchair ridden. Even removed from the mountain life she loves,
Heidi continues to work her magic into the hearts of the people and
Klara gets stronger and healthier. But Heidi soon become homesick
and longs to be free once more ...will she ever be able to return
home?
This
was a wonderfully retelling of Heidi that is good for the family and
all ages. It's a coming of age story about a young girl appreciating
the life, learning power of friendship and love and bringing the
family together. The film does a beautiful setting of the Swiss Alps
and of the time period, I would also definitely recommend watching in
the original German language. Bruno Ganz plays her grandfather.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image and lossy Dolby Digital 5.1
mix are as good as they can get in the format, but there are no
extras.
-
Ricky Chiang
