Crowned best foreign language film at the 1988 Oscars, Babette’s Feast is a gastronomic delight, a beautifully photographed, sublimely-acted, whimsical tale set in Denmark\'s remote Jutland coast in the 19th century.
It’s based on a novel by Isak Dinesen, the pseudonym of Danish author Karen Blixen, who also wrote the story which inspired the 1985 Academy Award winner Out of Africa.
The central character is elegant Parisian Babette (Stephane Audran), who turns up one stormy night at the home of spinsters Philippa (Hanne Stensgard) and Martina (Vibeke Hastrup). Babette explains she lost her husband and son in the 1871 civil war and produces a letter from her friend, the famous Gallic opera singer Achille Papin (Jean-Philippe Lafont), which begs the sisters to employ her as their maid/cook. Papin had visited Jutland years earlier, was instantly smitten by the beautiful Philippa, and, believing she could sing like an angel, began giving her singing lessons. Philippa’s father, a puritanical preacher, discouraged young males from showing interest in his daughters, and Papin was sent packing.
Agreeing to work for no money, Babette dutifully cooks, cleans, washes and sews while remaining a little aloof, but grateful, to her benefactors. On the 100th anniversary of their father’s birth, the saintly sisters decided to stage a modest celebration for the other villagers. But when Babette wins 10,000 francs in a lottery, she persuades them to let her prepare a grand feast. One of the guests is visiting Swedish General Lorens (Jarl Kulle), who was once one of Martine’s hapless suitors.
Director Gabriel Axel deftly turns Dinesen’s prose into a heart-warming and poignant tale, and there is plenty of humour in incidents such as Papin serenading Philippa, the villagers bickering, Philippa recoiling from the sight of a live turtle, and the dinner guests’ unwitting exposure to alcohol.
A minor criticism: There is a heckuva lot of hymn-singing as well as warbling by Papin and the young Philippa, most of which doesn’t advance the narrative.
A word of advice: Don’t watch this DVD on an empty stomach. Mouth-watering shots of such delicacies as turtle soup, quail in vol-au-vents, blinis and caviar are liable to spur you to the nearest 3-star restaurant. Basic extras comprise the theatrical trailer and select scenes.
Watch 'Babette's Feast'
Tuesday 26 July, 5:30pm on SBS World MoviesWednesday 27 July, 7:55am on SBS World MoviesThursday 28 July, 1:20pm on SBS World Movies
Now streaming at SBS On Demand
G
Denmark, 1987
Genre: Drama, Romance
Language: English
Director: Gabriel Axel
Starring: Stéphane Audran, Bodil Kjer, Birgitte Federspiel, Jarl Kulle
