On the desolate coast of Denmark live Martina and Philippa, the beautiful daughters of a devout clergyman who preaches salvation through self-denial. Both girls sacrifice youthful passion to faith and duty, and even many years after their father's death, they keep his austere teachings alive among the townspeople. But with the arrival of Babette, a mysterious refugee from France's civil war, life for the sisters and their tiny hamlet begins to change. Soon, Babette has convinced them to try something truly outrageous - a gourmet French meal! Her feast, of course, scandalizes the local elders. Just who is this strangely talented Babette, who has terrified this pious town with the prospect of losing their souls for enjoying too much earthly pleasure?
Directed by
Gabriel Axel
Written by
Gabriel Axel; Karen Blixen (novel).
Starring
Stéphane Audran (Babette Harsant); Birgitte Federspiel (Old Martina); Bodil Kjer (Old Philippa); Jarl Kulle (Old Lorens Lowenhielm); Jean-Philippe Lafont (Achille Papin); Bibi Andersson (Swedish Court Lady-in-waiting); Ghita Nørby (Narrator); Asta Esper Hagen Andersen (Anna (as Asta Esper Andersen)); Thomas Antoni (Swedish Lieutenant); Gert Bastian (Poor Man); Viggo Bentzon (Fisherman in Rowboat); Vibeke Hastrup (Young Martina); Therese Hojgaard Christensen (Martha); Pouel Kern (The Minister); Cay Kristiansen (Poul). Please contact SFC to add other cast members and characters.
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True Soul Food
Mark Banks (United Kingdom)
Opinion: Recommended
Watching Babette's Feast a second time around was a case of life imitating art for me. I'd watched it once before and thought it was dull and boring, but having seen the number of recommendations it received from Catholic critics, some years later I decided to watch it again. And just as in the film the eyes of the villagers are opened up to the wonders of the feast laid before them, so too were my eyes opened up to the beauty of this film; none more so than in the artistic, revered and even sacramental way in which the meal is prepared. And that after all is how at least some of our meals should be approached once in a while; food is life-giving, it's from the earth and a gift from God. Meal times should be times to relax and enjoy one another's company. And if we are to indulge in anything once in a while better it be amongst friends or even strangers in an unselfish way, than on our own for no one's benefit but me, myself and I. Babette's Feast also provides a reminder of how God pours out his grace upon us in a merciful way, even though we have done nothing to merit it ourselves, even in fact if we have been going around spreading little but misery wherever we have been! A lovely film, that allegorises God's mercy and grace at its utmost.
