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Babette's Feast

1987

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Babette's Feast|Movies with memories100@jcrodriguez2d2 views

Post for the contest organized by @wiseagent. The contest rules are in this post: https://peakd.com/hive-110713/@wiseagent/contest-scrobble-life-movies-with-memories-dxk

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There are many films that bring back wonderful memories, although choosing one for this contest wasn't difficult, because there's one that evokes such special memories that just thinking about it immediately transports me back to that time in my life.

From a very young age, I was drawn to film. As a child, I watched many movies on a television I was given. It was a small, black and white TV, and for me, it was the best gift in the world. I was also lucky enough to have a lot of freedom to watch whatever I wanted, even films considered inappropriate for my age, like The Night Porter. I've already talked about this in other posts.

It was during my teenage years that I fell even more in love with film, and the movie Babette's Feast had a lot to do with it. Back then, I went to the cinema every Monday. In my country, Mondays have always been the day when movie tickets are half price. I spent time with my friends watching new releases, mostly teen movies, comedies, horror films, etc. Nothing too profound. It was during that time that I discovered a film club that met on Saturdays at the Cine Obleisco. The club was run by a man named Juan Arcadio Rodríguez. Admission was very cheap, almost symbolic. I became a regular at the film club, and it was there that I saw Babette's Feast.

I loved the film; it was wonderful. It was even one of the first films that made me cry. It brings back many memories because it was practically the first Danish film I ever saw. In commercial cinemas, they usually showed Hollywood films dubbed into Spanish with subtitles, but with Babette's Feast, I saw a film in a language other than English. That caught my attention; it was a language unknown to me, with different accents and words.

I think I can say that Babette's Feast turned me into a true cinephile, as I fell even more in love with film clubs. It was there that I saw films from different parts of the world, especially Europe, because they organized film festivals with French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and other international films, as well as films from many other parts of the world. It was there that I began to see more dramatic and profound films that truly moved me.

The plot of Babette's Feast is very simple: it takes place in a small Danish village, inhabited by only a few people, including two elderly sisters. It's a very conservative village, one of those with puritanical and devout people. Babette, a French woman, arrives there after moving due to the conflicts in her country. She is welcomed, but at the same time, she never stops feeling like an outsider. Due to the village's puritanical nature, it's very difficult for them to express their feelings to someone from outside their community. This was something I noticed back then. Babette wins a prize, a large sum of money, and decides to use it to organize a grand French-style dinner for everyone. The film dedicates part of its runtime to the preparation of these dishes, with ingredients that might seem strange to the villagers. The food was quite exotic for people accustomed to their own customs. The curious thing about the story is that all the guests agreed not to show too much enthusiasm for the food. As the story progressed, they had to contain their astonishment, which led to some rather amusing situations, or at least that's how they seemed to me.

At each screening at the film club, they handed out a printed sheet with information about the film. I remember seeing on that sheet that the film had won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. It was then that I also became interested in learning more about the film's directors and screenwriters.

It was a wonderful time, and remembering this film transports me back to those moments of my adolescence, full of hopes and dreams, unprepared to face the harsh blows of adulthood. Babette's Feast left a mark on me, in a good way. It made me appreciate cinema from other parts of the world, completely unknown to me. It made me appreciate the art of photography, because it has some truly beautiful scenes.

Later, when I was already a VHS movie consumer, I was able to see other films starring the lead actress from Babette's Feast, a renowned French actress in her country.

Writing this post has made me a little nostalgic, remembering my student years and everything I experienced in the analog era, before the internet and this modernity that, instead of bringing us closer, seems to push us apart. I recommend watching this film; for some, it may seem very old—it's from 1987—but it's a true work of art that's worth seeing at least once in a lifetime.

Hay muchas películas que me traen recuerdos maravillosos, aunque elegir una para este concurso no fue difícil, porque hay una que evoca recuerdos tan especiales que, al pensar en ella, me transporta inmediatamente a esa época de mi vida.

Desde muy pequeña, me atrajo el cine. De niña, veía muchas películas en un televisor que me regalaron. Era un televisor pequeño, en blanco y negro, y para mí, fue el mejor regalo del mundo. También tuve la suerte de tener mucha libertad para ver lo que quisiera, incluso películas consideradas inapropiadas para mi edad, como El portero de noche. Ya he hablado de esto en otras publicaciones.

Fue durante mi adolescencia cuando me enamoré aún más del cine, y la película El festín de Babette tuvo mucho que ver. Por aquel entonces, iba al cine todos los lunes. En mi país, los lunes siempre han sido el día en que las entradas de cine cuestan la mitad. Pasaba el tiempo con mis amigos viendo estrenos, sobre todo películas para adolescentes, comedias, películas de terror, etc. Nada demasiado profundo. Fue durante esa época cuando descubrí un cineclub que se reunía los sábados en el Cine Obleisco. El club lo dirigía un hombre llamado Juan Arcadio Rodríguez. La entrada era muy barata, casi simbólica. Me convertí en un asiduo del cineclub, y allí vi El festín de Babette.

Me encantó la película; era maravillosa. Incluso fue una de las primeras películas que me hizo llorar. Me trae muchos recuerdos porque fue prácticamente la primera película danesa que vi. En los cines comerciales, normalmente proyectaban películas de Hollywood dobladas al español con subtítulos, pero con El festín de Babette vi una película en un idioma distinto al inglés. Eso me llamó la atención; era un idioma desconocido para mí, con acentos y palabras diferentes.

Creo que puedo decir que El festín de Babette me convirtió en un verdadero cinéfilo, ya que me enamoré aún más de los cineclubes. Fue allí donde vi películas de diferentes partes del mundo, especialmente de Europa, porque organizaban festivales de cine con películas francesas, italianas, españolas, portuguesas y de otros países, además de películas de muchas otras partes del mundo. Fue allí donde comencé a ver películas más dramáticas y profundas que lograron conmoverme.

La trama de El festín de Babette es muy sencilla: transcurre en un pequeño pueblo danés, habitado por pocas personas, entre ellas dos hermanas ancianas. Es un pueblo muy conservador, de esos con gente puritana y devota. Babette, una mujer francesa, llega allí tras mudarse debido a los conflictos en su país. Es bien recibida, pero al mismo tiempo, nunca deja de sentirse como una extraña. Debido al carácter puritano del pueblo, les resulta muy difícil expresar sus sentimientos a alguien ajeno a su comunidad. Esto fue algo que noté en aquel entonces. Babette gana un premio, una gran suma de dinero, y decide usarlo para organizar una gran cena al estilo francés para todos. La película dedica parte de su metraje a la preparación de estos platos, con ingredientes que podrían resultar extraños para los aldeanos. La comida era bastante exótica para personas acostumbradas a sus propias costumbres. Lo curioso de la historia es que todos los invitados acordaron no mostrar demasiado entusiasmo por la comida. A medida que avanzaba, tuvieron que contener su asombro, lo que dio lugar a situaciones bastante divertidas, o al menos así me parecieron a mí.

En cada proyección en el cineclub, repartían una hoja impresa con información sobre la película. Recuerdo haber visto en esa hoja que la película había ganado el Óscar a la Mejor Película de Habla No Inglesa. Fue entonces cuando también me interesé por saber más sobre los directores y guionistas de la película.

Fue una época maravillosa, y recordar esta película me transporta a aquellos momentos de mi adolescencia, llenos de esperanzas y sueños, sin estar preparado para afrontar los duros golpes de la adultez. El festín de Babette me marcó, para bien. Me hizo apreciar el cine de otras partes del mundo, completamente desconocidas para mí. Me hizo apreciar el arte de la fotografía, porque tiene escenas realmente hermosas.

Más tarde, cuando ya era consumidora de películas en VHS, pude ver otras películas protagonizadas por la actriz principal de El festín de Babette, una reconocida actriz francesa en su país.

Me ha dado un poco de nostalgia escribir esta entrada, recordando mis años de estudiante y todo lo que viví en la era analógica, antes de internet y esta modernidad que, en lugar de acercarnos, parece alejarnos. Recomiendo ver esta película; para algunos, puede parecer muy antigua —es de 1987—, pero es una verdadera obra de arte que vale la pena ver al menos una vez en la vida.

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Gifs and separators made by me in photoshop. Translation with Deepl

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Rating: 100/100

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2 more reviews

  1. ›CineTV Contest: Films about food - Babette's Feast@thunderjack959d

    This week I am taking a look at the film Babette’s Feast (1987), show in French and Danish, my Bonnie Bride watched it with English subtitles, the way it was meant to be seen. I remember seeing this film once before, so, when CineTV asked for posts about food, this is the film that came to mind. I apologize in advance for there being a few spoilers in this write-up.

    *Babette's Feast* (1987) Blu-Ray cover - [IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092603/mediaviewer/rm3913852416?ref_=ttmi_mi_all_prd_17)
    The story revolves around several people, two sisters, Martine and Filippa, both roles palyed by two different actresses to cover the span of years, with, respective order, Vibeke Hastrup and Birgitte Federspiel playing Martine, young and old; Hanne Stensgaard and Bodil Kjer as Filippa, young and old. The sisters are raised by their father, the village pastor, played by Pouel Kern, who appears in the scenes revolving around when the two sisters are young, and comes across as a bit domineering, and controlling of his daughters. At least that is my take on him.

    In the scenes that take place when the two sisters are young, they are each courted by a man who later play a role in their lives. The first is a soldier, Lorens, played by Gudmar Wivesson (young) and Jarl Kulle (old), who feels out of place in the small parish village while being wuite smitten by Martine. Lorens departs suddenly, and pursues his life as a soldier, rising in prestige and rank through the years, eventually attaining the rank of general. For Filippa, she is courted by an acclaimed French opera singer, Achille Papin (Jean-Philippe Lafont), who gives Filippa singing lessons, with the thought of taking her to Paris so that she could be a great opera singer like himself. To Papin’s chagrin, he is rebuffed when Filippa decides to discontinue the singing lessons.

    Stéphane Audran as Babette - [IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092603/mediaviewer/rm3674571776?ref_=ttmi_mi_all_sf_1)
    All of this sets the background for Babette’s entry into the story. The French Commune Revolution resulted in Babette (Stéphane Audran) having to flee France in fear for her life, with the aid of Papin who gives her a letter to take to the two sisters asa way of introduction, asking that the sisters give Babette shelter and employment. Years pass, and Babette, who has settled into the community, finds herself receiving a large sum of money, 10,000 Francs, and as the anniversary of the 100th birthday of the sisters’ now deceased father, Babette insists that they allow her to prepare a French dinner for the celebration, thus setting the table for the feast which is the focus of the story. And, as fate would have it, General Lorens returns to the village and joins the dinner. It is quite exquisite, featuring many delicacies that Lorens did not expect to find, and recognizes a course consisting of quail that was the signature dish of a fine Parisian restaurant, whose head chef was a woman.
    Some of the foods to be prepared - [IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092603/mediaviewer/rm2778216192?ref_=ttmi_mi_all_sf_56)
    The feast consisted of many courses served throughout the evening, each paired with a different wine; turtle soup leading the charge. The dinner is served immaculately, on fine china, crystal for the wine, silver flatware, all of the best quality. During the dinner, the facial expressions, not just of Lorens, but of the other guests (it was a dinner for 12), are interesting to see as the diners enjoy the meal, taking great pleasure in the medley of flavors, of which only Lorens is familiar with, and the guests take clues from him in on how to handle eating some of the unfamiliar dishes. Food is, after all, one of the simplest pleasures in life, with so many variations across the world. Some are simple, some quite complex, and this feast was far more complex than anything I have ever tried to prepare for family and friends.
    [IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092603/mediaviewer/rm2319321856?ref_=ttmi_mi_all_sf_61)
    Although much of the film revolves around food as Babette takes over cooking duties for the sisters, who deliver meals to some of the elderly villagers, it is a character study as we learn about the lives of the main and supporting characters in the story. Babette earns a reputation as being very smart and a bit shrewd in her dealings with the grocer and the local fishermen, as well as becoming well liked by the villagers, especially those elderly folks who benefit from the meals she prepares for them.
    The table after the feast - [IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092603/mediaviewer/rm3962464000?ref_=ttmi_mi_all_sf_29)
    As I mentioned at the beginning, I had seen *Babette’s Feast* once before, I am not sure if it was in the theater, or at home on a VHS (video tape is so last century) rental. The circumstances elude me, but the memory of seeing the film stuck with me, only remembering a few small bits about the feast itself, including the sea turtle imported as part of the meal (poor critter). As a period piece set in the second half of the 19th century, the film holds up well, the story is interesting, and is beautifully shot. This is a wonderful film well worth watching again and can inspire even people like me to want to try their hand at some of these very complex dishes (but I’ll pass on turtle anything as those critters are just too darn cute).

    For me, here in the States, tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and we are hosting several friends for dinner. The turkey will be Spanish style, rubbed with olive oil and spices, and the stuffing, also a Spanish recipe, will be dried fruit, mild Italian sausage, simmered in sherry. The rest of the meal will be more typically American. Oh, and homemade cinnamon ice cream to go with apple and pumpkin pies.

    Hopefully I have enticed you into checking out Babette’s Feast.

    Thanks for stopping by.

    To learn more about CineTV.blog and this week’s contest, check out - https://peakd.com/hive-121744/@cinetv/cine-tv-contest-87-favorite-movie-about-food

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  2. ›Babette's Feast - Movie Review@coldsteem2768d

    While watching Babette's Feast I found myself constantly questioning the wisdom of the Judge's who select the Academy Awards.  This 1987 film managed to win for Best Foreign Film (it was up against Au Revoir Les Enfants, which I have not yet seen.  I have an inkling that I will enjoy the latter more fully.  Babette's Feast was not my kind of film.  Although it had some interesting aspects, I found it pretentious.  Written by the author of the acclaimed Out of Africa, I had the feeling that the film was trying too hard to be special.

    Babette's Feast is a Danish film that feels longer than the 102 minute run time.  That is in large part due to the sluggish pacing and horrible narration.  The first half of the film is delivered by a narrator, with very little actual dialogue or verbal interaction from the characters.  The story takes place in an isolated seaside village in Jutland.  The film is centered around a small town Puritan pastor and his two (they say) beautiful daughters.  In an isolated town like this one, I can see where the girls would be sought after, they certainly weren't livestock.  These precious beauties (Bodil Kjer as Filippa and Birgitte Federspiel as Martina) each have a love that they put aside.  A couple of strangers from outside the village eventually leave an impression on each of the young ladies.

    After a passage of years, a French woman named Babette (Stephane Audran) seeks refuge in the village.  She arrives with a note for the sisters identifying her as a friend of one of their visitors fourteen years prior.  Babette is invited into their home, where she is given refuge in exchange for her services as a housekeeper.  Babette serves Filippa and Martina with humility and manages to make an impact on the otherwise drab village.  Her shrewd bargaining and subtlety allow her to bargain for her groceries while saving money.  Babette has one final surprise up her sleeve, which brings all the elements of the film together to explain how the seemingly unrelated story-lines tie together.

    The writing in Babette's Feast had seemingly contrasting qualities.  The dialogue was brilliant, but the story itself was turgid.  It seemed to me that the film was trying too hard to be artsy, while telling a rather mundane story.  The film had a strong cinematic feel with striking visual qualities, but the story plot had little substance.  The characters were mildly interesting, but none of their qualities managed to endear me to them or the story.  Without the affected trappings, the story itself would have completely fallen flat.  It is writing that must be taken as a whole, so the bloated trappings are necessary just to make the film tolerable. 

    The acting was solid enough in Babette's Feast, but I was never fully engaged by the characters.  It is hard to evaluate performances in a film that lags as much as this one did.  Especially when the first half of the film lacks dialogue.  I also thought the characters could have been developed further.  The way this film is structured never provides any of the actors an opportunity to shine.  The characters exist but tend to be flavorless.  How does an artist inject life into a character that lacks depth?  At least that is how I perceived things.  I think the cast was good, they just didn't have a very wide berth to express themselves. 

    I still find myself puzzled by my lack of appreciation for this film.  I enjoy plenty of Foreign and Indie films, so I don't think it is my own lack of culture...although that could certainly be argued.  But it is my opinion that Babette's Feast was created to win awards.  The film is "full of itself" and the overt pretentiousness turned me off.  The dialogue was rich and enjoyable but the story meandered around before bringing the loose ends together in a finale that was anti-climactic.  All in all, the film was okay but far from the quality that I would personally consider for an Academy Award.  I look forward to reviewing Au Revoir Les Enfants, the film that probably should have won in 1987.  In the meantime, Babette's Feast is not a complete waste of time...I would mildly recommend it. 6.5/10.

    Trailer and images subject to copyright.

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