Artistic, sensual and sacred passions unite in Babette's Feast. Written and directed by Gabriel Axel, from a short story by Out of Africa's Isak Dinesen, this Oscar(r)-winning*film offers "an irresistible mixture of dry wit and robust humanity" (Newsweek). Onthe 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 thetownspeople. 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 outrageousa 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? *1987: Foreign Language Film
Some movies can only be described as delicious. In Babette's Feast, a woman flees the French civil war and lands in a small seacoast village in Denmark, where she comes to work for two spinsters, devout daughters of a puritan minister. After many years, Babette unexpectedly wins a lottery, and decides to create a real French dinner--which leads the sisters to fear for their souls. Joining them for the meal will be a Danish general who, as a young soldier, courted one of the sisters, but she turned him away because of her religion. The village elders all resolve not to enjoy the meal, but can their moral fiber resist the sensual pleasure of Babette's cooking? Babette's Feast deservedly won the 1987 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. This lovely movie is impeccably simple, yet its slender narrative contains a wealth of humor, melancholy, and hope. --Bret Fetzer
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
foolishness:
Out of boredom,I was changing from channel to channel when I tuned in to the MGM cinema and saw this scene, an austere but beautiful young woman was being taught a French song by an amorous French voice coach. The woman's voice was heavenly, the setting was in an drab cottage. It gripped my attention and I saw the whole film without knowing what it was. At the end credits, the principal actress was identified, Stephanie Audran, and the costumes were by Karl Lagerfield, so I realized that it must have been a... more info
Sheer delight:
I love this movie. One of my culinary school instructors recommended it, so I ordered it and within two days it was in my hands. Some people can't keep up with the slow start to the story, but when telling a good story it's not always necessary to jump right to the exciting part. You draw it out. Like cooking, storytelling is a craft that's quickly losing it's place in public eye. Both have been replaced by getting spoon-fed homogenous crap from a can. At the end of the movie, when the sisters realize... more info
Babette's Feast:
This is the first time I've seen it without sub-titles....dubbed in English! Marvelous film that can be taken many ways....a nice story about using our gifts and talents to help others, and the love that can arise, all the way to the symbolism of Christ's sacrifices for others (the story's intent). Very well packaged, and quick shipping.
Review without comment:
Lovely, delightful, charming re-telling of one of Karen Blixen's most characteristic stories. Huston's "The Dead" may have preceded and perhaps inspired it, but "Babette's Feast" is actually an even better, sweeter, more brilliantly acted, written and directed film. Personally, I lean more to Scandinavia than Ireland. I won't recount the plot, and I still can't understand why reviewers think that repeating the plot is a review: once is enough, please. Please. I can only make a few comments. First of all,... more info
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