Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld , based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 7+
Enjoyable, beautiful, warmhearted remake of classic tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
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Violence & Scariness
very little
Several sequences show a family in fear of a ghostly presence. Doors rattle; spooky shadows are seen; something lands with a thud. Peter, the goatherd, uses a stick to break up a fight between two goats. In a fit of anger, Peter destroys a wheelchair.
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
very little
A housemaid secretly takes a nip of liquor. A man and a woman have a drink together.
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Positive Role Models
a lot
Heidi, a victim of circumstances, is fearless, loving, open, courageous, and smart. She has a magical capacity to open the hearts of others, even some for whom all hope has been lost. Heidi interacts with both young and old, who are infected with her spirit and inherent goodness. Adults portrayed run the gamut from kind, understanding, and compassionate to a coldhearted governess who gives nothing of herself. No ethnic diversity.
See AlsoHeidi (2015) | Rotten Tomatoes -
Positive Messages
a lot
Strongly advocates that an enduring spirit, love, and harmony with nature are to be esteemed at least as much as material possessions and wealth. Among the values promoted are generosity, respect for the beauty of the natural world, the positive benefits of extended family, and acceptance of others, no matter how different they are from oneself.
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Educational Value
some
Meticulous portraits of distinct cultures (manners, values, economic circumstances) in late 19th-century Europe. The bucolic, simple life in mountain villages of the Swiss Alps is contrasted with the bustling, cosmopolitan, big-city German life in Frankfurt.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Heidi (2015) is a lovely retelling of the Johanna Spyri book about a spirited orphaned child in late 19th-century Europe. Heidi's time-honored quest to find a permanent place in the world takes her from her first days in a simple, rough-hewn cabin in the Swiss Alps with an eccentric grandfather to the sophisticated life of Frankfurt, Germany, as a ward in the home of a wealthy businessman. While there are a few suspenseful sequences (several in which it appears that a ghost is haunting the Frankfurt mansion) and many touching, delicate moments in which Heidi's well-being and happiness are at stake, there are no scares and little action (Peter, the goatherd, uses a stick to break up a goat fight). Still, kids should be old enough to handle emotional scenes in which the young heroine faces disappointment and homesickness and realizes that she is either not wanted or not understood. Made with care and sensitivity and beautifully photographed, this German production (released in both dubbed and subtitled versions for English-speaking audiences) is a welcome addition to the Heidi collection. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Heidi (2015)
Parent and Kid Reviews
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- Parents say (2)
- Kids say (2)
age 7+
Based on 2 parent reviews
Clare D Parent of 5, 6 and 8-year-old
April 14, 2019
age 6+
Picturesque and heart warming
My 5 year old really struggled with the themes of abandonment and home sickness and needed lots of reassuring throughout this film. She cried and shouted with tears of anger, but then also relief and happiness!My 6 year old was very distressed at the goat slaughter, but coped fine with the rest. My 8 year old took it all in her stride and really enjoyed it.I loved the book as a child and remember the TV series, just about. The film is good and covers the main aspects of the story, but fails to get the amazing descriptiveness of the environments and the foods, the sights and the smells, the friendships and the emotions anywhere near the book. Which is to be expected. It's still beautiful though - worth a watch!
Andy Sweet Parent of 8-year-old
August 19, 2018
age 7+
Adults and kids enjoyed greatly
We were pleasantly surprised at the warmth and beauty of this movie. Adults had seen the Shirley Temple version and were uncertain we would enjoy this one. We felt the story was beautifully told and shown. Good role models of friendships and intergenerational love. Some characters are overly simplistic or stereotypical, but that works for children. We watched dubbed version which was occasionally distracting but overall done very well.
See all 2 parent reviews
What's the Story?
In HEIDI (2015), with no warning, Aunt Dete (Anna Schinz) drops her niece, 8-year-old orphaned Heidi (a delightful Anuk Steffen), at the isolated, rough log cabin mountain home of her reluctant grandfather (Bruno Ganz). The old man, held in contempt and fear by nearby villagers, is furious and orders them away. But Dete persists, abandoning the little girl. Befriending Peter (Quirrin Agrippi), a young goatherd, Heidi learns to love the austere alpine life and soon wins the hearts of her grandfather and the villagers. Months later, Aunt Dete returns. Filled with remorse at leaving Heidi behind, the woman has secured a new place for the girl as companion to a wheelchair-bound Klara (Isabelle Ottmann), daughter of a wealthy widowed Frankfurt businessman in their lavish home. Heidi, despite being unable to read or write and ignorant of the many niceties and manners necessary in such an environment, once again wins over the household staff with her spirited nature. Klara adores her, and the two become great allies. Only Klara's governess, the uptight Fraulein Rottenmeier (Katharina Schuttler), who runs the home during the owner's long absences, mistreats her new charge. Still, Heidi, once again deposited in an unfamiliar place without a choice, grows more and more homesick, hoping for even a glimpse of the mountains she left behind. In a stroke of good fortune, Heidi's unhappiness comes to the attention of another grandparent, Klara's caring, compassionate Grandmother Sesemann (Hannalore Hoger). With the good woman's help, Heidi is able to return to her true home and, in the process, bring joy, hope, and even a little magic to everyone involved.
Is It Any Good?
Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (2):
Gorgeously photographed, with wonderful performances and artful direction, this production honors the spirit, intent, and gratifying story created by Johanna Spyri in her classic 1880 children's book. From the opening scenes, director Alain Gsponer's lush version of the story reveals his command both of a long-ago time and place and of filmmaking designed to evoke strong emotions and accessibility. Heidi (2015) is the most recent film adaptation of the story, following numerous movies for theaters and television, the most well-known of which is the 1937 Heidi, starring Shirley Temple. Anuk Steffen makes this Heidi her own; her performance is flawless and endearing. Bruno Ganz, a much-honored German actor, delivers a nuanced Grandfather. It appears that the dubbed version of the DVD is the most readily available in the U.S., but the subtitled film is a solid entry for strong readers. This film is highly recommended.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the differences between Heidi's life in the mountains and her stay in Frankfurt. What, specifically, did she miss about her home with her grandfather? What were the positive results of her time at Klara's house?
How did the filmmakers use the simple ritual of eating meals with family as a means of showing the vast disparity between Heidi's two homes? What other symbols did they use to heighten those disparities (clothing, windows)?
Why did Peter destroy Klara's wheelchair? Did you agree with Heidi's decision to so easily forgive him? Why, or why not?
Even though we are aware that people who are confined to wheelchairs can't simply get up and walk, we accept it as part of this story. The filmmakers tried to prepare the audience for this event when Heidi went to Frankfurt. Can you remember what specific moment indicated that Klara's recovery might be a possibility? (Hint: It had to do with Klara's history and the emotional component of her condition.)
Movie Details
- In theaters: April 10, 2015
- On DVD or streaming: April 4, 2017
- Cast: Anuk Steffen, Bruno Ganz, Isabelle Ottman
- Director: Alain Gsponer
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Studio Canal
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Adventures, Book Characters
- Character Strengths: Courage, Curiosity, Empathy, Gratitude
- Run time: 111 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: May 26, 2024
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Heidi (2015)
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