Heidi, a story retold and revived

Numerous Heidi films and television productions have been released in the past century. Aside from the 1937 Hollywood classic starring child star Shirley Temple, there have also been authentic Swiss-German versions and new adaptations.

The first Swiss production was a black and white movie, Heidi, in 1952 by Luigi Comencini. During the late 1970s and 1980s Swiss children grew up with a Swiss and German television co-production which stayed true to the original story. Recent filmmakers have done new takes on the tale. In Thomas Imbach’s film from 2001 Heidi is taken to Berlin. The most recent production by Swiss French language television depicts Heidi’s youth. (swissinfo.ch)