Babettes Gæstebud (Babette's Feast) poster & wallpaper
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Stéphane Audran, Jean-Philippe Lafont, Gudmar Wivesson, Jarl Kulle, Bibi Andersson ... see more see more... , Bodil Kjer , Birgitte Federspiel , Ebbe Rode , Hanne Stensgaard , Bendt Rothe , Vibeke Hastrup , Lisbeth Movin , Pouel Kern , Michel Bouquet , Ghita Nørby , Tina Kiberg , Axel Ströbye , Ebba With , Else Petersen , Asta Esper Andersen , Finn Nielsen , Holger Perfort , Erik Petersen , Lars Lohmann , Tine Miehe-Renard , Thomas Antoni , Cay Kristiansen , Bernadette Lafont , Preben Lerdorff Rye , Gert Bastian , Viggo Bentzon , Therese Hojgaard Christensen

The Danish/French Babette's Feast is based on a story by Isak Dinesen, also the source of the very different Out of Africa (1985). Stephane Audran plays Babette, a 19th century Parisian political refu... read more read more...gee who seeks shelter in a rough Danish coastal town. Philippa (Bodil Kjer) and Martina (Birgitte Federspiel), the elderly daughters of the town's long-dead minister, take Babette in. As revealed in flashback, Philippa and Martina were once beautiful young women (played by Hanne Stensgaard and Vibeke Hastrup), who'd forsaken their chances at romance and fame, taking hollow refuge in religion. Babette holds a secret that may very well allow the older ladies to have a second chance at life. This is one of the great movies about food, but there are way too many surprises in Babette's Feast to allow us to reveal anything else at this point (except that Ingmar Bergman "regulars" Bibi Andersson and Jarl Kulle have significant cameo roles).. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

90% liked it

8,467 ratings

Critics

93% liked it

15 critics

G, 1 hr. 42 min.

Directed by: Gabriel Axel

Release Date: August 28, 1987

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DVD Release Date: January 23, 2001

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Stats: 857 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (857)

  • RCCLBC
    September 16, 2010
    RCCLBC
    This film really moved me when I first saw it many years ago. I just rewatched it and I think that I enjoyed it even more this time around.

    On the surface it is a very simple film, but the currents that run below the surface are very deep and complex. The film is beautiful, ... read moresad, depressing, inspiring and heartwarming all at once.

    It is made all the more powerful by the wonderfull acting and beautifull cinematography. A true classic in every sense of the word.
  • smith44
    August 5, 2010
    smith44
    Set in a rugged fishing village in 1871 Denmark, shows the impact of a French housekeeper (Stephane Audran) on two pious sisters who carry on their late father's work as pastor of a dwindling religious flock. Danish director Gabriel Axel's understated but finely detailed work cen... read moreters on the preparation and consumption of an exquisite Gallic meal, a sensuous labor of love which has a healing effect on the austere sect and the Frenchwoman who prepared it. This film has so much power and warmth.
  • fb619846742
    July 6, 2010
    fb619846742
    One of the longest hour and forty minute films I've ever sat through. The movie wasn't primarily my cup of tea (ha!), but I respect certain aspects of it's storytelling ability and it's skill for fleshing its chief characters out masterfully. It's an extremely slow, and often bor... read moreing movie, but its one that does have some good elements to it. Just not enough for me to say it's totally worth one's time - only if you're really into food, then this might be the movie for you, might be.
  • sainttom93
    July 12, 2007
    sainttom93
    You can't watch this movie on an empty stomach -- When it first came out, in Minneapolis, You could actually by Babette's Feast for about $50!
  • merillupin
    September 21, 2009
    merillupin
    Something very appealing in its simplicity. Religious abstinence vs very yummy food!
  • threefolddado
    February 25, 2008
    threefolddado
    What being an artist is all about.
  • HuskersNC949597
    January 8, 2011
    HuskersNC949597
    I haven't yet figured out how to pronounce that letter that looks like an a smushed together with an e, but I imagine it's worth a lot of points on Wheel of Fortune. At any rate, this is a legitimately touching ending featured here, or at least I felt like it made the relatively... read more boring dinner scene make sense to my booze-addled mind.
  • philliprenke
    July 3, 2010
    philliprenke
    This movie centers around two secluded sisters who live in a devoutly religious town in Denmark. As the daughters of the town pastor, they devote themselves to their father and carrying on his legacy giving up chances to leave the town and become married. They eventually take in ... read morea French woman named Babette who becomes a housekeeper and cook for the ladies. When an oppurtunity arises Babette creates a French feast that has the very conservative sisters and townspeople wondering if their souls are in jepordy. And that's it.
  • glenn2009b
    June 20, 2010
    glenn2009b
    This is showing on EPIX right now. The movie has the typical setup which is slow moving and somewhat boring. I thought the father was selfish to keep his daughters from going out into the world and having their own lives and families. I doubt that would ever happen now days.

    But... read more, what makes this movie special is the preparation, consumption, and aftereffects of the feast (and feast is the right word). I thought it was very funny how the town's folk anticipated the 'devil's food - French food) and the differences between their appreciation of the food and the sophisticated general's appreciation of the food.

    The change in the guests as the feast progressed was quite satisfying.
    The sentimentality of the movie was too much in some scenes; but over all, a good movie.
  • racheljpatterson
    March 13, 2010
    racheljpatterson
    We watched this in my Food and Culture class. I thought it was quite good. It's very thought-provoking, and inspiring.

View All Babettes Gæstebud (Babette's Feast) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum
January 29, 2010
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

The acting is impeccable and the ambience suffused with delicate charm, but overall this doesn't aim at anything higher than Masterpiece Theatre or a Merchant-Ivory film. Full Review

Tim Brayton
December 6, 2010
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy

Undoubtedly the warmest of all Scandinavian films about religion. Full Review

Heather Boerner
September 16, 2010
Heather Boerner, Common Sense Media

A heartwarming feast for adults. May bore kids. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
November 7, 2006
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Despite the austerity of the characters and local, this quiet gentle Danish film, the surprise winner of the 1987 Best Foreign Oscar, won over audiences with its subject of food, and the preparartion ... Full Review

James Sanford
September 27, 2003
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette

Scrumptious and beautifully crafted

Jeffrey M. Anderson
April 21, 2003
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner

Still the gold standard of food movies.

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
September 1, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

A literate and lovely-to-look-at film that compels us to meditate upon the needs of the flesh and the gifts of the spirit. Full Review

Steven D. Greydanus
May 8, 2002
Steven D. Greydanus, Decent Films Guide

A quiet celebration of the divine grace that meets us at every turn, and even redeems our ways not taken, our sacrifices and losses. Full Review

Dan Jardine
September 24, 2001
Dan Jardine, All Movie Guide

At turns philosophical and sensual, this hauntingly elegaic film resonates. Full Review

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

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    • Lorenz Lowenhielm as an old man: Mercy and truth have met together. Righteousness and bliss shall kiss one another. Man in his weakness and short-sightedness believes he must make choices in this life. He trembles at the risks he takes. We do know fear. But no, our choice is of no importance. There comes a time when your eyes are opened and we come to realize that mercy is infinite. We need only await it with confidence and receive it with gratitude. Mercy imposes no conditions. And lo! Everything we have chosen has been granted to us and everything we have rejected has also been granted. Yes, we get back even what we have rejected. For mercy and truth have met together and righteousness and bliss shall kiss one another.
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