Heidi by Johanna Spyri
Not long ago I had a chance to view this 2017 movie of Heidi. Unfortunately, Netflix doesn't have it, but that link will take you to the Amazon version. The film endeared itself to me immediately because the grandfather is played by Bruno Ganz, whom I first met as the amazing grandfather in Vitus (another great movie set in Switzerland).
I remember having seen a movie version of Heidi many years ago, but which one it was I have no idea. All I remember about it is that this new one struck me as quite different. Having never actually read the book (yes, I'm embarrassed), I decided it was necessary to remedy that omission and learn the truth.
Normally I prefer reading a book before seeing any movie version, so as not to have someone else's ideas and images come between the author and my experience. However, in this case, the movie is good, and true enough to the book that seeing it first is fine—and the movie would be worth seeing for the Swiss scenery and culture alone. If I'd read the book first, I'd probably not have enjoyed the movie as much, because my mental commentary always intrudes: That's not right, that didn't happen, why did they change that scene?, why did they leave out the best parts???
So go ahead, see the movie. But be sure to read the book! There really is a lot to this beautiful story that's left on the cutting room floor for the film. I strongly recommend reading the book, especially for anyone lucky enough to have friends or family in Switzerland. It would be a great read-aloud choice, and the Kindle version is free. Unfortunately, I can't find any information on the translator for the Kindle edition. I like the translation very much, because it's fine English but retains just a little flavor of the German—for example, the neuter gender of das Kind—which adds to the atmosphere. The only time I notice this getting in the way of understanding is that apparently the word for "yawn" is translated "gape," which can lead to some confusion in one chapter. Otherwise, it's just delightful.
It's lovely to be able to recommend a book without reservation!
I can never think of "Heidi" without remembering Nov 17, 1968 and the little girl (Jennifer Edwards in this version) who launched the modern football era.
https://www.npr.org/2012/11/17/165359212/heidi-the-little-girl-who-changed-football-forever
I had forgotten! I was in college at the time, and not watching television at all, but I certainly heard about it later. I had no interest in football and little sympathy for the fans, who could no doubt have seen the end of the game on the news a few hours later. But neither did I understand why the start of the movie couldn't have been delayed a few minutes and the rest of the evening's schedule shifted slightly.
Televised football lost me when the networks stopped covering the halftime shows. :)
