The two ageing Misses, Martine and Filippa, keep together a steadily decreasing flock of pious Christians, gathered by their father, the priest, many years ago. Both women carry the memories of the great love that was sacrificed in favour of God and a life of abstinence.
The power of art and love
Babette wins some money in the lottery and uses all of it on preparing a succulent French dinner for the small, evangelical community. The good food and wine make them all remember that it is possible to enjoy life - and love - and worship God at the same time. Early in the film we are told that Babette has lost everything. But her sunny disposition is in sharp contrast to the self-righteous renunciation of the community of Western Jutland.
Babette's Feast is based on a story by Karen Blixen, who became known all over the world under the pseudonym of Isak Dinesen. The film depicts Babette as a passionate artist in her own field - cooking. Such a true artist has enough strength to change people's lives.
A hit abroad
The film manages to keep a discrete ironic distance from the pious residents of the west coast environment of the 1870s. The thrifty, timid members of the community gulp down the exotic courses, terrified that they are about to participate in a witches' sabbath.
The film director, Gabriel Axel, was born in Denmark where he directed several films in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. He went to live in France, where is married to a Frenchwoman and has lived and worked for many years. This means that the film could also be autobiographical to some extent. Babette's Feast was a great hit, especially abroad, winning an Oscar for Best Foreign Film in 1988.
Christian Monggaard is a film reviewer and critic for the daily newspaper Information.
Stéphane Audran and Babette's Feast (Babettes gaestebud) . Photo: Peter Gabriel. Producent: Panorama. © Nordisk Film.