Babette's Feast

Starring:StÃ©phane Audran, Birgitte Federspiel, Bodil Kjer, Jarl Kulle, Jean-Philippe Lafont, Bibi Andersson, Ghita NÃ¸rby, Asta Esper Hagen Andersen, Thomas Antoni, Gert Bastian, Viggo Bentzon, Vibeke Hastrup, Therese Hojgaard Christensen, Pouel Kern, Cay Kristiansen, Lars Lohmann, Tine Miehe-Renard, Lisbeth Movin, Holger Perfort, Else Petersen
Director: Gabriel Axel
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

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

Description

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

Customer Reviews:

savor it..........2007-06-22

for anyone desiring to see what the difference between a Hollywood film and a foreign film is, this is the one to watch. Babette's Feast is a scrumptious delight. A simple story about a mysterious French woman who comes to the coast of Denmark and works for 14 years as a cook to two pious Danish sisters. The story slowly unravels like a great masterpiece and when the French cook wins a lottery all the pieces come together to reveal a gorgeous mosaic of humanity. Full of simplicity, humor, and insight to the human condition. Simple, funny, gorgeous and delightfully delicious.

full and overflowing.......2007-06-14

The same gentle irony that Karen Blixen brought to the interplay of faith and human experience in OUT OF AFRICA is to be observed in full flower in this delightfully quirky film adaptation of her short story called BABETTE'S FEAST. Blixen found the French fathers in Kenya a bit rigid and self-interested, yet she expressed this with kindness and patience. She does the same here with her Lutheran Danes.

The romantic exuberance of the French servant-woman Babette as she brings to the island village that is her refuge the sensuality of a lavish feast does not reduce the disciplined and selfless orthodoxy of the Lutheran sect to ridicule. Rather, there is room for a certain conversion in *both* directions, a cross-pollenation that Blixen and her cinematic interpreters allow themselves to relish.

Blixen left us a great story. It has been made into a memorable film that belongs on the 'keeper' shelf of viewers who love a story.

BABETTE'S FEAST is a full plate for the heart.

A Feast for Your Eyes, and Your Heart........2007-06-14

This movie is a masterpiece. Babette's Feast shows the story of love for: God, food, family, friends, and growth. It's literally a feast for your eyes, and your heart. Bravo!

I first watched this movie with the subtitles. I loved it so much, I had to watch it again in dubbed English.

Babetts Feast is WONDERFUL!.......2007-05-14

I do believe this is the most touching film's to come from Scandnavia in many years....Beautiful in it's simplicity and story line...Although it is sub-titled the impact of the story was perfectly conveyed by the actors and was heart warming....It has become special to me and my family as I am Swedish-American and very proud of my heritage. thankyou

Babette's Feast.......2007-05-05

The feast is the total antithesis of what the first part of the movie isn't. The feast is phenomenal - I've played it over and over. I think it helps to love food and cooking though. That movie got me to try and like - Turtle soup!

Average customer rating:

savor it...
full and overflowing
A Feast for Your Eyes, and Your Heart.
Babetts Feast is WONDERFUL!
Babette's Feast

Babette's Feast [Region 2]
Starring: Stéphane Audran , Birgitte Federspiel , Bodil Kjer , Jarl Kulle , and Jean-Philippe Lafont
Director: Gabriel Axel
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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