I just finished viewing Babette’s Feast for the first time in seventeen years and, I have to say, it was everything that I remembered—and more. Though it was released in 1987, I didn’t see it until a few years later when I wandered into the foreign film section of my local video store. I rented it by chance, having not an inkling of the sumptuous feast that my heart was about to attend.
On the most basic level, this is a story of an artist who won’t be beaten. In spite of her austere circumstances, her creative spirit refuses to wane. On another level, the story paints a portrait of servanthood and sacrifice and the difference that one person can make as their life is woven into the fabric of the lives around them. Delving even deeper is a striking image of Provision, Abundance, and Grace that simultaneously humbles and inspires.
There is a difference between eating and feasting. There is a difference between a banquet and a meal. Like an exquisitely set table, Babette’s Feast is an extraordinary profusion of flavors which awaken the soul and whet its appetite for more.
Don't be shy! Share your thoughts/impressions! I've been waiting 17 years to discuss this completely delicious film!
23 comments:
Well now you've piqued my interest! I must watch this film! Delightful blog by the way!
Cheers,
Jo
Thanks, Jo! I do hope you have a chance to view Babette's Feast. And, if you do, please come back and chat with me about it!!! Thanks for stopping by.
:)
Well, I decided to join the fun and called Blockbuster tonight to see if they had Babette's Feast. They do not. All twenty-six copies were out.
No, actually they don't carry it at all. I may check elsewhere if I can ascertain the whereabouts of other film brokerages.
Well, I appreciate the effort, Steve. If you find it impossible to track it down, I'd be happy to send you my copy! :) LOL!!!
One of the first things that struck me after watching the movie and having had time to think about it, was the General. I loved watching him throughout the meal. These people have a wondrous feast set before them, and they are slurping it down like every day Campbell's chicken noodle soup. (which I love, BTW) He keeps looking around, and you can see the look in his eyes, "Do you not know what you have here? Can you not understand that you have a meal fit to lay before royalty, and you are acting like it doesn't exist." I think some of us (ok, Me) get caught up in the hum-drum rut of life, and we need the General to come around every now and then and re-open our eyes to what is lying around us at any given time. That our life is a feast, to be savored and enjoyed down to the last drop of sauce.
Absolutely, Bryan!!! That scene at the table illustrates one of my favorite insights within this movie. As you mentioned, the General keeps looking around, not understanding why the others do not seem to appreciate the exquisite meal. But, the thing that really convicts me is that he doesn't seem to disdain or ridicule them. He continues to enjoy the food and invites them to do the same with his gentle leadership throughout the evening. Through his example, the sisters and their guests are gradually able to appreciate Babette's amazing gift, but it happens one small bite, one small sip, at a time. I just love that image of patience and grace.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Bryan. I'm so excited to finally get to talk with someone about this film!!! :)
And if you don't mind me tying back to P&P, there is some pre-judging going on as well. How often do we make up our mind ahead of time, that we are going to Not like something, sometimes to the point of not even being willing to try it. I Love the General. Not only does he not judge the rest of the congregation, he doesn't even try and explain or instruct them in how to enjoy the meal. He just quietly keeps displaying his grace and his "manners" and as the meal progresses, the others at the table begin to emulate him.
Another thing that really struck me about the movie, is that it was very un-Hollywood. By that I mean that most movies made today, seem to be produced by the Short-Attention-Span network. If something major isn't happening every 30 seconds, they figure it isn't holding anyone's attention. I love movies, and this one does it well, that let the story develope instead of dumping it all on you at once.
I very much agree, Bryan. That's one of the things that I really enjoy about this film...it feels so authentic. I can almost taste the salty sea air and smell that big pot of nasty-looking ale bread and dried fish percolating. (Ew!)
I feel very much like a fly on the wall, witnessing events as they unfold. I know that's probably ALWAYS the objective of film-making, but some films seem to accomplish it better than others.
I also love the image of servanthood in this film. Even though Babette's skills in the kitchen are far superior to the sisters', she never corrects them or argues as they "teach" her how to prepare the meals. She goes about her work and does so with real integrity. She interjects her knowledge and abilities in quiet, graceful ways that enrich the lives around her without degrading or finding fault with them.
That's something that I'd like to do a better job of in my own life.
Hmm, "Judge not...."
There is also an underlying current of being content in your situation. Coming from a position of celebrity in the cultural center of the world, she never complains or shows any discontent with being cast into a small Norwegian fishing village.
And THAT, is "something that I'd like to do a better job of in my own life." :)
Bryan, I see so many different things in this movie, it's hard keep myself contained and able concentrate on one idea at a time!
I have always wondered if the author of the story actually meant for it to be spiritual or if I have just read my own ideas into it.
And, if I HAVE read my own ideas into it, I am slightly torn about whether or not that's a good thing or just down-right strange! :)
You mentioned that Babette had come from a position of celebrity in a cultural center of the world...to be tucked away in a lowly fishing village. That really falls right into place with so much of what I've always seen in Babette's character.
Here's what I see:
1) She leaves everything that she has (and she has a lot) to go live in the village.
2) She becomes a servant, willingly, even gladly, and her presence there positively impacts the quality of life for those around her.
3) She willingly sacrifices ALL that she has to prepare the dinner for the sisters and their guests.
4) She prepares a meal abundantly above all that the sisters could possibly ask for or imagine.
5) She does this for the sisters edification, as well as nourishment, and because it pleases her to do so...she enjoys the creative act in and of itself.
6) She doesn't hold anything back. When the dinner is prepared, she has spent every last cent. She didn't prepare the meal as a "good-bye" gesture (as the sisters assumed), but as a gift freely given to be enjoyed to the fullest.
Does anything about this character/plot sound familiar to you??? Or am I drawing too many parallels? I realize that Babette only arrives in the village because of the war that is raging elsewhere...but even THAT could be symbolic if you really want to push the envelope! :)
It's really okay if you or anyone else reading this disagrees with me. THIS IS WHY I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DISCUSS THIS FILM...I've always wondered if anyone else found these story elements interesting and inspiring as well.
And I haven't even mentioned my thoughts about the impact of the meal on the sisters and their guests!...
:)
A way of "Sharing" the gospell without "Blaring" the gospell? Wow, do we have blog-room for this discussion? :)
And so far, most of the discussion has been on Babette. Watch the sisters.
1. From the beginning of the movie, they go around the village providing physical "nourishment" for the congregation. They do not even realize that the food they pass out, Really comes from Babette. Only through the feast, the "last supper" are their eyes opened, and they realize that what they have been distributing, has really been the generosity of Babette, that they have been the messengers. (the disciples? Paul?)
2. Their dispare when they assume that after the feast Babette will be leaving, and their joy when they find out that Babette will be with them always.
Hmm. You thought of some things that I hadn't considered. I've always thought of the dinner as symbolizing the abundance of life...that there is so much more that God has planned for us than we often realize or appreciate. I hadn't considered comparing it to the Biblical last supper. I'll have to think about that a while.
So...are you saying you think that Babette was buying the food that the sisters provided for the elderly in the community? If that's the case then I missed that point entirely!
I'm not sure that I would characterize this film as a purposeful attempt to share the gospel, but I do see elements there that I find meaningful and encouraging.
My copy is loaned out right now...is there anything on your DVD cover that suggests the film was based on a novel? I'd be interested in reading it, if it was.
Thanks for your open and thoughtful discussion, Bryan. This is just as much fun as I hoped it would be!!! :)
My turn to hmmm.
No, I don't think that Babette was financially backing the sister's efforts, but the sisters Did say that Babette was at home cooking all of the meals, so the sisters were passing out the food that Babette had prepared.
I don't know that the story was intentionally built around the gospel. I think like most good stories, it invites you to bring into the story what you Want to bring into the story. I think that most Good stories, are very simple at heart. What makes them Great, is that they pull you into them and provoke you into thought. A Great story teller doesn't give you all of the details. He lets the story unfold, draws you in, and then gives you that little wink that makes you think there might be more than a tale about a boy and his dog involved.
p.s. "Babette's Feast" is a short story written by Isak Dinesen
p.p.s. Although now that you mention it, thinking back, the sisters Did say that since Babette had come they now had more money than ever. Babette supplimenting the meal costs, or simply a Very good negotiator?
I definitely think Babette was a good negotiator! She haggled with the fisherman and got around paying twice for bacon when the first piece was spoiled. I don't think the sisters had the spunk or the know-how to mangage their own affairs that well.
Thanks for checking and passing on the short story title. I'll have to see if that was a published work or just the preliminary for the screenplay.
Fun, fun, fun! :)
I also think that they sisters and the congregation had fallen into mindset so prevalent today. "Tell me what I need to think/know. I don't want to have to think for myself." So much of their way of thinking had been given to them, that I don't think they really "thought" anything for themselves anymore. I think besides the meal, Babette's free thinking also crept it's way in during the movie, just opening eyes to the possibilities that were out there.
You know, Bryan, I've been wanting to mention something about that...I'm glad you reminded me! :)
The old minister repeated the same message for so many years that everyone had his words committed to memory. But, to me, the words seemed hollow...almost meaningless as he spoke them. No one seemed moved or affected in any way. They all respected the old minister, of course, and tried to conform to his ideals, but there didn't seem to be any real commitment in their hearts. It was almost as if he was speaking a foreign language because he was talking about things that the people hadn't really experienced...and later that lack of experience was heavily guarded by FEAR.
Once the minister was gone, the shallowness of their faith became apparent as they squabbled over old grudges and petty disagreements.
Then, during the feast, a sort of transformation takes place. The guests are inspired to forgive each other and love each other as never before. When the General recites from the old minister's sermons, the words also appear to be transformed. They take on a deeper meaning and seem to make sense for the first time.
Stuck in the mindset of their confined corner, the sisters had unbelievably small expectations for Babette's dinner. They had no idea of Babette's experience, abilities, and creativity as a chef...nor had they any real inkling of her generosity as a person. They had absolutely no way of conceiving or imagining the exotic dishes that she had planned for them. They received the gift with some reluctance and trepidation at first. But, afterward, they are almost unable to express how thankful they are for the exquisite feast. I think they say something like..."Good dinner, Babette." Or some other similarly thin line of gratitude. But, it's not that they don't really appreciate it...I think they are overwhelmed and completely taken by surprise. It was all so much more than they would have ever asked for or even thought to ask for.
I see this in myself so often, I'm sorry to say. I have read (even memorized) scripture that describes God as One "who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think" and yet I am so very like the sisters, confined in my small corner of limited experience and/or imagination for conceiving what God may be doing in my life.
This film SO encourages (and challenges) me not only to hope for great things, but to expect them! It also reminds me to have the courage to accept His plans without reluctance even when they turn out to be different than I may have originally thought...because MY thinking is so small! :)
Amen
Wow. I don't think there is much I can add to this discussion! I watched Kimberlee's copy, and I other than being a little disappointed that there wasn't something happening every 30 seconds, I enjoyed it - with my short attention span and all! :)
All sarcasm aside, I really did enjoy this movie. Because there is so little "action", you are able to see that so much more is happening. Good example of the idea, less is more.
That's a good point, Ami. I'm not sure that the spiritual implications that I have mentioned were ever really the intent of the movie, anyway. The goal may have just been a quiet look into the lives of these people. In any case, you're right, less is more! :) Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts!
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