I was trying to think of a good film for Thanksgiving, but it’s kind of tricky, since Thanksgiving is such a quintessentially American holiday and doesn’t exactly tie itself well to a general concept (like Halloween does with horror), it was much harder to think of something that would fit. However, I think this 1980’s Danish film might be about as close as I’m ever going to get to something that would fit this holiday and work for my blog. It’s a film about getting people together for a feast and the meaning of creating such a feast for this purpose, but it’s also very much about our decisions in life and the paths that we take versus the paths we could have taken. I found it to be a very affecting film and probably one of the best “food movies” ever made, if I’m honest. I might be skirting the obscure line again, as I have quite a few times before, since this film did receive acclaim and awards when it came out, but it’s another one that I figure many folks probably haven’t seen, due to its foreign nature and age. Anyway, before I get too into this film, here’s the story.
The film follows two sisters, Martine and Philippa, who live in a rural Protestant village on the Danish coast with their preacher father. The two have lived there their entire lives, not once ever leaving the village or even getting married. A flashback shows that they have had opportunities to do one and/or the other, with Martine having a relationship with a military officer and Philippa with a famous opera singer who notices her singing ability. However, neither relationship develops, as the officer leaves the village to work his way up the ranks and “make something of himself,” whereas Philippa doesn’t want to leave her father behind for the sake of fame and so declines the opera singer. Many years later, after their father has passed away, a French lady knocks on their door one night with a letter from the opera singer. Apparently, her name is Babette, and the singer helped her escape from France during the revolutionary conflicts at the time. They refuse at first, saying that they can’t pay her much, but Babette offers to work for free so long as she can stay there. They ultimately agree to let her stay, and she goes about being their personal cook for a good many years, though is often stuck preparing rather uninteresting meals, due to the village’s perceptions of “wanton pleasures.” However, one day Babette receives a letter from an old friend in Paris, one who would renew a lottery ticket for her every year, and it turns out that this year, she won. The sisters are both happy and saddened by this news, as they are glad for Babette, but also figure that she will want to leave them behind and return to France. However, Babette suggests that she prepare a feast for the two sisters, as well as their congregation, and not some blasé thing that they’re used to, but a “real French feast.” The two sisters agree, though are rather reluctant about the whole thing, both because they don’t want Babette to spend so much money over this and because the meal is so foreign to them that it almost appears pagan or occultic. This, coupled with a village visit by a famous general, who will also be attending the dinner, and there’s a sense of dread over all the invitees about the night’s proceedings, though Babette is just hard at work in the kitchen. How will the dinner go over? Who exactly is this general that’s visiting? Where does all of this lead? Well, I might have to reveal at least one of those, but I’ll save the rest of the actual story for you to see. It’s really worth seeing on your own.
I’m not too familiar with Danish cinema, though I’ve heard from some folks that it can come across as rather bleak. Looking at this film, I think I can see at least one interpretation of what they mean. The village that the story takes place in is very dreary, with gray houses, dull clothing, and a good amount of mist or fog on any given day. However, this is all very much a part of the overall idea. Like I mentioned before, this is a Protestant village that believes wholly in the rejection of excessive pleasures. They act moderately, eat moderately, and in general, live moderately, but always with a sense of piety and reverence towards God’s will. This sort of existence would probably be uninteresting or even stifling to those that don’t share their views, which is the case with Babette. Living with the two sisters, she’s mostly relegated to making very bland fish, bread, or soup-type dishes, and while she appreciates the sisters and what they’ve done for her, it’s clear that this sort of cooking is not of the came caliber as what she knew in France. Thus, her want to create a French supper for everyone when she has the opportunity makes a lot of sense, as not only would she be able to spread her culinary wings once again, but she would also be able to share something of herself and her culture with the village and give them a new experience. Of course, the villagers are very uncertain about this, especially after seeing that cow heads, quail skulls, and a giant sea turtle are on the menu. They clearly associate this sort of cooking with pagan witchcraft and such, and there’s even an arty little dream sequence to illustrate this point. I have to say that I found this bit both charming and pretty left-field, because it almost felt like something out of a 60s/70s movie, what with the moving still images, trippy music, and fire effect layered over the images. Still, it was a neat sequence that helped to illustrate the point. Anyway, what’s interesting is that, while the townsfolk are hesitant about the feast at first, the visiting general is highly appreciative of it and even seems to have a familiarity with the dishes being served. It also seems as though, through his enthusiasm as well as just acclimating to the dinner, the guests let their guards down and actually start to enjoy it. In fact, they also loosen up in general, such as one man who accuses his brother of cheating him years ago before the dinner becomes much more forgiving of his brother by the end (and even claims that he got back at him, though he never says how). In addition to this general theme of appreciation and understanding of each other, the foreign, and craftsmanship, I also think the film discusses our paths in life versus the paths we might have traveled. Bit of a spoiler, but the general turns out to be the officer that Martine once had a relationship with. He has accomplished what he felt he had to in life and is now a decorated war general, but he has ultimately been left with a sense of emptiness and unfulfillment and sometime reflects on the person he used to be as opposed to what he now is. Meeting up with Martine again, the two don’t share any words at first, but after experiencing this wonderful meal and truly appreciating it, he tells Martine that he feels that she has ultimately made the better choice in life. Unlike him, who is celebrated but has no real people in his life, Martine cared for her family and neighbors above all else and has a connection to a higher power that gives her meaning. A similar sentiment is echoed by the opera singer, who is now far past his prime and is left a lonely old man while Philippa is much more fulfilled. As someone who is still relatively young in years, this sort of theme might not reflect my current state, but I still felt something as I thought about what these characters had to say. To be honest, I have often pondered what is the right way to go moving forward, and I do have things that I want to accomplish, but I also don’t want to come to a point where, though I’ve accomplished what I wanted to, it hasn’t left me with any real meaning or purpose. It could very well happen anyway, but it is something that I think about sometimes, and I think many others could relate to this idea, as well as the theme of appreciation and such. In this way, I think this film would really speak to a lot of people, and much like the meal itself, while it might appear rather different and alien to American eyes at first, it’s very enriching once you sit down and take it all in. I definitely don’t want to spoil the ending, and even though some folks might be able to figure it out beforehand, it’s still worth seeing. Sometimes an ending can carry an emotional impact even if you can see the plot progression coming, and this is certainly one of those times. Alright, before I gush too much, I’ll give my final verdict.
I recommend this film very highly. I don’t want to over-hype it or anything, but I feel that most anyone with the interest should watch this one. It discusses themes that are rather universal to many people and handles them with grace, giving a proper emotional legitimacy to them that never feels over-played. It might not be a Thanksgiving movie exactly, but I think that it shows an appreciation for cooking and the act of getting together to enjoy a feast. But even if it’s not Thanksgiving, I’d still recommend giving it a watch. Take a bite of Babette’s Feast and remember to give your compliments to the chef afterwards. She’d certainly appreciate it.