The nest among the mountains, the pastures, Grandpa, Peter the friend, snow-white the goat. Heidi, the Alpine girl, has been revived in a dedicated exhibition. “Heidi, a mountain legendâ€, after its departure from Turin’s Mountain museum, heads towards Val Vigezzo in Piedmont. The orphan shepherdess Heidi from Grigioni (Switzerland) is for many, especially the younger, the one known in the sixties cartoon created by the Japanese and co-produced by the Germans. The 52 episodes, which can still be seen on the small screen and in VHS, have become a cult cartoon.
The true story of Heidi, whose exhibition starts on Saturday 16th October and continues until 30th January in Santa Maria Maggiore, doesn’t begin in the sixties and neither is it in cartoon form. It was in fact the pen of Swiss Author Johanna Spyri that brought to life the Shepherdess from the alpine pastures and snow fields of Dorfi, in 1880. “Heidis Lehr- und Wanderjahre†(Heidi’s years of learning and wanderingâ€, a Goethian base title) was a success and the story loved. It then continued being loved as Heidi went on to become the most acknowledged and widespread “Alpine†text on the planet.
In 1884 the book had already been translated into 4 languages and the first Japanese version arrived in 1920, the same year that witnessed the first film version “Heidi of the Alpsâ€. In 1937 the story obtained its cinema approval with a film version starring child prodigy Shirley Temple as its protagonist. Many other versions followed and to date over 20 Heidi films have hit the screens.
Heidi, 124 years old and ideal ambassador of the Alps in the world, is a story set in the Alps. But it is also a story about the Alps. Heidi is a “Legend†as the title tells us, and lives on thanks to a formula that could only rouse affection and success: the Story of a heroine in a small antique world where the mountains and uncontaminated nature replace the parents she never had. An unforgettable character, whether you call to mind the book or whether you imagine the sweet child created by Japanese animators.
Info:
“Heidi, a mountain legendâ€
From Saturday 16th October 2004 at 17:00 At Sala Mandamentale in Santa Maria Maggiore The exhibition will remain open to the public until 30th January 2005.
Opening days and times: Every weekend from 26.12 to 9.01 every day: 10.00 – 12.30 – 16.30 – 19.30
30th October; 20th November; 11th December; 8th January2005 Animated readings for Nursery and primary school children from 17:00
www.comune.santamariamaggiore.vb.it
Ufficio Informazione e Accoglienza Turistica (iat)
Monday to Saturday 9.00 to 13.00
tel. (+39) 0324 95091
