Babette’s Feast – Babette’s gæstebud (1987)

Directed by: Gabriel Axel | 99 minutes | drama | Actors: Stéphane Audran, Bodil Kjer, Birgitte Federspiel, Jarl Kulle, Jean-Philippe Lafont, Bibi Andersson, Ghita Nørby, Asta Esper Hagen Andersen, Thomas Antoni, Gert Bastian, Viggo Bentzon, Vibeke Hastrup, Therese Hojgaard Christensen, Pouel Kern, Kristiansen

‘Babette’s Feast’ is a film about sensual, artistic passions and hidden desires. Director and writer Gabriel Axel based his film, for which he won the Oscar for best foreign film in 1988, on a short story by ‘Out of Africa’ writer Isak Denisen. A film that feels a bit dated because of the atmosphere, colors and hairstyles. There’s something of a doctor’s novel in the air, so misty and then such a beautiful, tough man, soldier, lieutenant in this case, embracing a woman on the edge of some kind of fjord (but Danish), looking out over the raging waves and who, between passionate kisses, promises her his everlasting fidelity. And then dies in the war. Well no, none of that happens, but it seems to have that atmosphere. However, romanticism takes very different forms, passions are not indulged, but rather withheld.

Two women live by the rules of their canonized father and do not dare to follow their own hearts, let alone express and shape their deepest desires. Everything revolves around father. As a result, the ladies, one a very talented singer and the other actually destined for a beautiful marriage with a lovelorn lieutenant (yes, that one), whom she rejects. He then swears, bitterly, that he will only focus on his career and becomes general, but without the love of his life. And all for that father, who doesn’t even come across as strict, he doesn’t even have to forbid them, they know what is expected of them. It may make the viewer a bit sad at home and make the film a bit gloomy, also because people live so terribly sober, which fortunately changes when Babette appears on the scene.

It is nice that people have not fallen into the trap of letting her be overly obstinate and independent. Babette definitely brings life to the brewery, everyone loves her, but it soon becomes clear that she respects her hostesses and doesn’t disapprove of their lifestyle and conforms to it. Which is symbolized in the (incredibly gross-looking) beer bread, which she obediently prepares just like the sisters, but then, to everyone’s delight, slightly tastier. She does what she has to do, also out of gratitude. Only at the meal at the end, the feast, does she show her true face and that is extra strong.

Neatly it is all built up, with a history of the two rejections (of the singing career and love) and the devotion of the greatly aging congregation to its pastor, who has banished all earthly pleasures to the realm of hell and exerts its influence until long after his death. But again: the whole thing feels somewhat dated. Yet it is also entertaining. The narrative structure is perhaps just a bit too neat and therefore a bit transparent and the fact of the lottery won has been dragged in a bit, but it was necessary for the dinner to take place at all, hence. It is the feast that straightens things out and makes them round. Who doesn’t get water in his mouth at the sight of all that wealth, must be made of stone. And is this film a deserved Oscar winner? Oh well, 1988, sure.