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Viewing Nonni und Manni DVD Series Review (Books Also Available)Nonni und Manni DVD Series Review (Books Also Available)
By Kathy Steinemann
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This review refers to the German-language version of the popular production (originally created in the Icelandic language). The story is based on children's books written by Jon Svensson. It is an excellent learning tool for intermediate students. 'Nonni und Manni' is a **Region 2** DVD series that was produced for TV in 1988. If you do not have a Region 2 DVD player, check the DVD Region Hacks and Information section at A-Language-Guide (or go to videohelp.com). This review refers to the German-language version of the popular production (originally created in the Icelandic language). The story is based on children's books written by Jon Svensson. Adults, too, will enjoy watching this popular family-oriented series. Icelandic is a North Germanic language. This series was translated into standard German, and the dubbed audio is easy to understand. Lip reading won't help you with unfamiliar vocabulary, because Icelandic - though a German derivative - is quite a different language. Each of the 3 'Nonni und Manni' DVDs contains 2 episodes of 52 minutes - for a total run time of 312 minutes. Intermediate to advanced students of German should be able to follow the dialogue. The speech is not filled with idiomatic expressions, and is spoken at a leisurely pace. These DVDs do not have any subtitles (so you won't be able to cheat by reading as the episodes play). Storyline: It is Iceland, 1869. Twelve-year-old Nonni and his 8-year-old brother Manni live with their mother (Sigrid) and grandmother outside of a little farming village. Their father sailed overseas before Manni was born, and they have been waiting for him to return all these years. One day a stranger named Harald comes ashore with the news that their father (Harald's best friend) has died. He helps out on the farm, much to the chagrin of a local businessman, who yearns desperately for Sigrid to marry him. The businessman takes an immediate dislike to the stranger from overseas. A rich farmer is murdered, and Harald is accused. By this time Nonni and Manni have become very fond of Harald (and he of them). Harald must flee into the mountains to avoid capture. The two boys believe vehemently in his innocence, and the rest of the story is all about their attempts to keep him safe and prove his innocence - while they place themselves in a number of life-threatening situations. Miscellaneous Notes: Iceland's majestic beauty is a picturesque backdrop to the tale. The background music has a melancholy, moving tone. The boys' wool jackets are lumpy just the way handspun, hand-sewn clothing would be, and the women's clothing is very distinctive. They didn't have CGI special effects available in 1987-1988. The polar bear (Eisbär) attack scenes betray the dating of the production techniques, but do not detract from the suspense. Each DVD includes the same group of extras: 'Nonni und Manni' would be a good learning tool for anyone trying to tackle German. It is an interesting and well-produced series. Nonni und Manni Complete Series - 3-DVD Set: Book (January, 2007) - probably a shortened version (not much information available yet): Pocketbook edition (1990): Hardcover book (1995): The series was written by Joshua Sinclair I, and directed by Ágúst Guðmundsson. The theme song 'Ocean' (in English) was written by Klaus Doldinger. You should be able to purchase the DVDs and/or books from Amazon.de, Ebay, or AbeBooks. (c) Copyright Kathy Steinemann: This article is free to publish only if this copyright notice, the byline, and the author's note below (with active links) are included. About the Author: Kathy Steinemann is a busy webmaster and author who enjoys writing German-English stories in parallel translation. She works behind the scenes at several websites, including A-Language-Guide dot com. Article Source: A Language Guide - http://www.a-language-guide.com More free articles: 1st Rate Articles - 1stRateArticles.com |
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