On April 4, Head to the Hills with HEIDI, a Lavish, New Adaptation of the Children's Classic! -- Review and #Giveaway

Disclosure:  I was sent a screener from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.

"A familiar crowd-pleaser is back...young kids will eat this up" 

-- The Hollywood Reporter

THIS APRIL, JOIN OMNIBUS ENTERTAINMENT FOR

A LAVISH, AWARD-WINNING ADAPTATION OF 

A TIMELESS CLASSIC

DVD AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT WALMART

One of my favorite movies growing up was Heidi. I remember watching it with my family and wishing one day that I could travel to the Swiss Alps, as it looked like a magical and oh so beautiful place.  As I grew, I began reading different versions of Heidi in paperwork and watched a couple other renditions of Heidi including two animated movies.  But, I have to say that my favorite is this upcoming release from Omnibus Entertainment.  Not only is this new movie engaging and perfect for children and adults of all ages, but the movie itself was shot in the Swiss Alps, thus providing a stunning backdrop to a children's classic beloved by so many over the ages.

I had never shared my love for Heidi with my girls until we sat down last night to watch this movie.  I wasn't sure if it was a little mature for them, but I remember seeing Heidi the first with my family and I was around 7, so I thought I would give it a try.  The worst the girls could do is get bored and walk away and do something else.  But, that didn't happen. Instead, the girls were asking questions like how could the aunt just up and take Heidi away from her grandfather who she has developed a relationship with, and how could the aunt really know what is best for Heidi is she doesn't ask her or the grandfather. I was surprised the girls were so into the story and were very upset with the aunt.  Bella got so upset that at one point she yelled at the television to leave Heidi alone. 

My girls asked me halfway through the movie how the story ends as I told them this is a classic children's story and one I loved as a child.  They were getting antsy and didn't want to sit through the movie if there was no happy ever after.  I told them they had to sit and see for themselves as I didn't want to ruin, but that they would enjoy it.  So, they sat through it, and at the end as the credits rolled, I looked over and Bella was tearing up.  I asked her what was wrong and she said they were happy tears.

It is amazing how a classic story like Heidi can be retold in a new fresh way and continue to captivate fans of years past, as well as gain new fans like my girls.  This was a wonderful family movie to share and one everyone, including my husband, enjoyed. I told my girls that I would have to try and get my hands on the Heidi version I grew up watching so that they could watch and compare, to see which they liked better.  I told them that while the one I originally saw holds sentimental value to me, this upcoming HEIDI release, which is Dove-approved, as now my new favorite, and one I will remember for years to come, as it was the one that I was able to introduce my own girls to HEIDI, like my mom did with me 30+ years ago.

Are you a fan of HEIDI, or are you always on the hunt for wholesome family-friendly movies to share with your family for movie night?  Why not consider pre-ordering HEIDI or making a note on the calendar to visit Walmart on April 4th to get your copy of this new release?  You will not be disappointed with this latest big screen adaptation of this children's classic.  You, too, may be surprised to find you enjoy this one more, like I do.

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More about this upcoming DVD release...

"With more than 50 million copies in print, Swiss author Johanna Spyri's beloved 1880's novel, "Heidi," is one of the all-time classics of children's literature, which has also spawned numerous adaptations - from a 1937 Shirley Temple vehicle and several Japanese anime series to a Hanna-Barbera feature.  This April, Omnibus Entertainment invites families everywhere to head for the hills with HEIDI, a new, lavishly produced adaptation starring Bruno Ganz and marking the big screen debut of Anuk Steffen as the titular Swiss mountain girl.

Orphan girl Heidi spends the happiest days of her childhood with her eccentric grandfather, Alpöhi (Ganz), cut off from the outside world in a simple cabin in the breathtaking Swiss mountains. Together with her friend Peter, she tends to grandfather's goats and enjoys freedom in the mountains to the fullest.  But these carefree times come to an abrupt end when Heidi is whisked to Frankfurt by her Aunt Dete.  The idea is for her to stay with the wealthy Sesemann family and be a playmate for his wheelchair-bound daughter Klara, under the supervision of the strict nanny, Fräulein Rottenmeier.  Although the two girls soon become close friends and Klara's grandmother awakes a passion for books in Heidi while teaching her to read and write, young Heidi's longing for her beloved mountains and her grandfather grows ever stronger.

Spyri originally published "Heidi" as a two-volume novel - "Heidi: Her Years of Wandering and Learning" and "Heidi: How She Used What She Learned" - and, according to the original subtitle, was written "for children and those who love children."  Aside from being translated from the original German into over 50 different languages, HEIDI has also become an enduring figure in children's entertainment through many theater productions; television programs, including one by the BBC and one by Walt Disney; films, including a silent one; a musical play co-written by Neil Simon; a video piece with Paul McCartney and Mike Kelley, and a talking dog version with Angela Lansbury.  There is even a "Heidiland" in eastern Switzerland.

Called "handsomely crafted" (Edmund Lee, South China Morning Post), this most recent adaptation, an international box office smash that has played at top children's film festivals across the U.S., also captured the award for "Best Children's Film" at last year's German Film Awards.  Omnibus Entertainment's DVD features both the original German language version with English subtitles, as well as a dubbed version."

---GIVEAWAY---

Thanks to the folks at Ommibus Entertainment, one lucky Inspired by Savannah reader will have a chance to win this upcoming Heidi DVD release.

To enter, please complete the entries on the Rafflecopter form below.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  I was sent a screener from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.