Heidi

Heidi

Year: 1952

Runtime: 100 mins

Language: German

Director: Luigi Comencini

DramaFamily

Heidi, an orphan raised by her aunt in Frankfurt, is sent to the Swiss Alps to live with her gruff grandfather. Though he first rejects her, her kindness gradually softens him and they become close. She also befriends Peter, a shepherd boy. After three years, her aunt returns to take her back to Frankfurt, forcing Heidi to choose between the mountain home she loves and her family.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Heidi (1952)

Trace every key event in Heidi (1952) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Heidi's life in the Swiss Alps with Alp-Öhi

Heidi lives with her grandfather, Alp-Öhi, in a cottage high in the Swiss Alps. She finds joy in the mountain air and spends time with her friend, the goatherd Peter, enjoying the simple pleasures of rural life.

Swiss Alps, Alp-Öhi's cottage
2

Parson invites Heidi to the village for the bell festival

The village parson visits Alp-Öhi and asks him to accompany Heidi to the village for the installation of the new church bells. The event is tied to the village festival, with children expected to help hoist the bells. The invitation also presents an opportunity for Heidi to make friends before she starts school there.

Alp-Öhi's cottage / village
3

Bell installation and village festival

During the bell installation, the village festival comes alive as children take part in hoisting the heavy bells. Heidi participates with curiosity and energy, drawing attention from the townsfolk. The festival becomes a focal point for Heidi's potential integration into village life.

festival day Village festival near the church
4

Alp-Öhi faces distrust and a family tragedy

Villagers accuse Alp-Öhi of starting a fire that damaged several houses and the church tower, a charge he rejects as unfounded. He is already grieving the loss of his son—Heidi's father—who died while fighting the fire. Soon after, Heidi's mother dies from grief, deepening the sense of isolation around the Alp-Öhi.

Village
5

Aunt Dete leaves Heidi with Alp-Öhi

Aunt Dete had cared for Heidi after her mother’s death but leaves to work in Frankfurt, Germany, entrusting Heidi to Alp-Öhi. The abandonment marks a turning point as Heidi becomes rooted in her grandfather's care. The distance between Heidi’s mountain home and the wider world begins to feel real.

Alp-Öhi's cottage
6

Dete brings Heidi to Frankfurt to join the Sesemann household

Dete travels to Frankfurt for a job at the Sesemann household and tricks Heidi into accompanying her, pulling her away from the mountains. Heidi starts life in a grand urban home, far from her beloved Alps. The new setting introduces Klara, who uses a wheelchair, and a strict governess in Miss Rottenmeyer.

Frankfurt, Germany
7

Heidi befriends Klara and unsettles Miss Rottenmeyer

In the Sesemann household, Heidi quickly befriends Klara and helps her in everyday tasks. Her free-spirited nature proves challenging for Miss Rottenmeyer, the governess, while Sebastian the butler grows fond of the lively girl. Heidi daydreams of returning home to the mountains while enjoying her new companionship.

Sesemann house, Frankfurt
8

Klara regains mobility and Heidi's stay is decided by Mr. Sesemann

Heidi's care inspires Klara, and the girl begins to walk again. When Mr. Sesemann returns from a long trip, he is overjoyed by Klara's progress and, grateful for Heidi's help, decrees that she should stay indefinitely in Frankfurt.

Sesemann house, Frankfurt
9

Haunting nights reveal Heidi's distress

The family experiences nightly apparitions that turn out to be Heidi sleep-walking around the house. Doctor Classen and Mr. Sesemann diagnose this as a symptom of emotional distress, signaling that Heidi may need to return to her mountain home for her well-being.

night Sesemann house, Frankfurt
10

Doctor Classen advises Heidi to return home; Klara will visit during holidays

Dr. Classen recommends that Heidi depart for the mountains to recover emotionally. The plan includes Klara visiting Heidi soon during the holidays, allowing the friend to share in Heidi's homeland while preserving Klara's bond with Frankfurt.

Sesemann house, Frankfurt
11

Heidi returns home and mend fences with villagers

Heidi goes back to the Swiss Alps, and her return helps resolve the tension between Alp-Öhi and the villagers. The mountains and Heidi's grandfather draw the community back together, ending the estrangement that brewed earlier.

Swiss Alps, Alp-Öhi's cottage
12

Sunday church service marks reconciliation

On a Sunday, Heidi and Alp-Öhi join the villagers for church service, symbolizing their restored bond with the community. The parish welcomes Heidi back into village life as she continues to treasure her mountain home.

Sunday Village church

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:13

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Heidi Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Heidi

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