Babette's Feast
Babette's Feast

Babette's Feast

1987Movie104 minDanish

A French housekeeper with a mysterious past brings quiet revolution in the form of one exquisite meal to a circle of starkly pious villagers in late 19th century Denmark.

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IMDb7.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes100%
Metacritic95
Google Users94%
Director: Gabriel AxelGenres: Drama, Foreign

Plot Summary

In a remote 19th-century Danish village, two pious sisters live a life of austere devotion. Their quiet existence is disrupted when Babette, a French refugee fleeing political turmoil, arrives seeking sanctuary and becomes their housekeeper. Over the years, Babette dedicates herself to the sisters and their small community, until a lottery win provides an opportunity for her to express her gratitude in a spectacular way.

Critical Reception

Babette's Feast was a critical and commercial success, earning widespread acclaim for its exquisite cinematography, profound themes, and masterful direction. It resonated with audiences for its gentle exploration of faith, art, and the transformative power of generosity and culinary artistry.

What Reviewers Say

  • A visually stunning and deeply moving cinematic experience.
  • Praised for its subtle yet powerful exploration of faith, art, and human connection.
  • Celebrated as a masterful ode to the pleasures of life and the grace of giving.

Google audience: Audiences overwhelmingly loved the film, frequently highlighting its beautiful storytelling, touching performances, and the incredible depiction of food and its ability to bring people together. Many found it to be a profoundly spiritual and heartwarming experience.

Awards & Accolades

Won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1988. Nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language.

Fun Fact

The elaborate, authentic French cuisine prepared by Babette was a central element of the film, and considerable effort was made to ensure its accuracy, including consulting with a real Parisian chef.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

4 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Now if you’re not up for a genuine dose of human kindness then this isn’t going to be a film for you. It’s all about the young “Babette” (Stéphane Audran) who has been taken in by a pair of spinster sisters who, despite plenty of opportunit...
Wuchak

Wuchak

**_The moment when “Mercy and truth… have kissed each other”_** In a northern Jutland village, two daughters of a pietistic Lutheran pastor are dutiful spinsters by 1871 (Bodil Kjer and Birgitte Federspiel) when they take-in a Parisian r...
r96sk

r96sk

Well, <em>'Babette’s Feast'</em> is exactly what it says on the tin, that's for sure. It is a film that I'd personally refer to as 'good', though my interest did ascend and descend interchangeably throughout. The religiously and sing-y s...
CRCulver

CRCulver

Based on a Karen Blixen story, <i>Babette's Feast</i> is a heartwarming tale of generosity in 19th century Denmark. As the film opens, we are introduced to Martine and Philippa, daughters of a charismatic preacher in a tiny Jutland village....