How much did Ceddie know?

I watched the movie only yesterday and I wondered the same thing. However, I do think he was a bit ignorant about his grandfather's hard-heartedness. It was my impression - especially during the scene when the Reverend showed up for the first time to make a beg on Higgins' behalf - that Ceddie thought his grandfather was just making a point on teaching him responsibility but wasn't really as hard-hearted as it seemed. My guess is that Ceddie really did believe that the Earl was kind at heart.

I never read the book though, so maybe someone who did can give another opinion.

I agree. In my view, the best illustration of this is the scene in which Ceddie and his grandfather meet Higgins in front of the church, right before service. My interpretation of this scene is that Ceddie knew his grandfather had denied Higgins the favour that the vicar had asked for on Higgin's behalf; but he goes on giving Higgins a talk which does not leave his grandfather a choice but to help him.

I read the book, and the idea in there is that Ceddie had been brought up so innocently that he really can't comprehend nastiness. Also in the book, he didn't actually see the village. His mother tells him about it, and Ceddie think that the man his grandfather hired to keep him informed the place maybe wasn't doing his job very well, and tells his grandfather about it. I always interpreted the scene in the movie as Ceddie not knowing what to say or how to respond since he had never seen that kind of poverty before.

I read the book and I think he was just too innocent to understand about the cold heart of his grand father.

But everytime I see the movie there is this one scene... where Havisham introduces Ceddie to the Earl and asks for a private moment, bevore he tells the Earl about the mother's demands.
Isn't there anybody else who wonders how Ceddie could stand only a few meters away and NOT overhear that conversation??? During the breakfast you can see, that he understands his grandfather sitting on the other side of the long table. So why should he be def on the day before? Just because script told him to be?

I don't think that Ceddie heard that his grandfather dislikes his mother. It doesn't go with the story. But I can't believe that it is possible he didn't hear what Havisham and the Earl were talking about.