BABETTE'S FEAST

Denmark, 1987, 102 minutes, Colour.
Stephane Audran, Birgitte Federspiel, Bodil Kjer, Jarl Kulle, Jean- Philippe Lafont,
Directed by Gabriel Axel.

Babette's Feast is a beautiful and fine film, the winner of the Oscar for Best Foreign Film of 1987. It is also a fine Danish film, based on a short story by Karen Blixen (Isak Dinesen of Out of Africa).

The film is set in the 19th century in remote Jutland and re-creates the atmosphere of the small village with its Lutheran traditions and its strict religious sect. The focus on two sisters from their youth to their old age is particularly fine. The film has religious overtones, especially in the Lutheran tradition with the puritanical touch as the old father restricts the happiness for the lives of his daughters in the name of religion. They continue to do works of mercy in the village.

Stephane Audran is excellent as Babette, the refugee cook who serves the two sisters for many years. When she wins the French lottery, she spends all the money on preparing a beautiful feast as she did when she was chief chef at the Cafe Anglais in Paris. Her feast is her work of art and her gift to the sisters and the villagers.

The film has eucharistic overtones as the villagers, religious people but who squabble in their sect, gather together unwilling to enjoy the feast but are charmed by the food and the drink and its presentation and mellow. They are joined in happiness and harmony for the birthday of their religious founder. There are elements of reconciliation as after the feast, the old people reconcile and forgive ane another.

The film portrays human nature, strengths and weaknesses, beautifully - and is a strongly implicit religious film.

1. The impact of the film? Story, characters, themes? Religious theses? The Oscar and the film's quality?

2. The work of Karen Blixen, her background in Denmark, ideas and perceptions?

3. The contribution of Gabriel Axel? His adaptation of the screenplay? Direction? Moods and insights?

4. The re-creation of 19th century Denmark: society, the poor, the wealthy and the city, the army and its life, high society? Religion? The backgrounds of Jutland, France and Sweden?

5. The landscapes and seascapes of the Jutland village: streets, homes, church, the sea, the seasons?

G. The musical score: the range of hymns throughout the film, popular songs and opera, selections from The Magic Flute?

7. The structure of the film: the voiceover, the focus on the sisters, their past and their father, the suitors and the effect on their lives, the rejection of the suitors, Babette's arrival, her living with the sisters for 14 years, the lottery, the feast and the final reconciliation?

8. A humane film with beauty: human lives, charity, reconciliation, senses and the sensual, art, delight, communion and thanks?

9. The explicitly religious: background: the Lutheran tradition, names, the founding of the sect, the conduct of the meetings, church celebrations, the singing of hymns, the lyrics of the hymns, the quoting and reading of Scripture, the works of charity, the father and his quoting God's will and
God's will equated with his authority? The sect? their joy, the breaks in the groups, mutual suspicions and offences, the Sisters? The Puritan attitudes (the songs)? The build-up to the feast and their refusal to enjoy it, the final confessing of their sinfulness, rediscovering joy, reconciliation and harmony? The contrast with the piety fashionable at the time?

10. The feast and the lottery: the idea of the feast, ordering the whole menu? the drama of the arrival by sea, impact of the contents, the art in cooking, the work in the kitchen, its detail, perfection and satisfaction?

11. Sharing in the feast: in the menu, the guests, the puritanical attitudes changed by the effect, the twelve at the feast, Lorens and his appreciation, transformation, mellowing, kissing, the piano playing, Erik sleeping, the coachman grinning, Babette and her satisfaction, the wine, the ring in the marketplace, the singing, Lorens' testimony?

12. Philippa and Martina, their names after Luther and Melancthon, seeing them serving the poor of the village, their devotion to their father, belonging to his sect? Lorens and his arrival, going to the meetings, the father's cutting his daughter off? The arrival of Papin, Philippa in love? Papin and his singing of Mozart? The daughter's delight? Her quality of singing? Her father's decision? The arrival of Babette and her effect on the sisters, the years passing, the continued meetings, the dissent? Babette and her life in the village, going to the market, buying the fish, bargaining? The sisters and their manner, graciousness? Their concern for Babette? Joy with the winning of the lottery, concern about the feast? Sharing in the feast? Praise for Babette in heaven?

13. The portrait of the father: good man, founding the sect, his religious traditions, his reaction to his parishioners, the suitors and the boys at the church, his malice towards his daughters? His being remembered and celebrated?

14. Lorens and life in the city, the soldier, the waste, the gambling, his father's tradition, his aunt and her home, the meetings with the daughter, falling in love with her, his ambitions and leaving? His return, invitation to the feast, meeting the elderly woman - and the rekindling of his love?

15. Papin and his coming to Sweden, his melancholy, going to church, hearing the singing, his offer of tuition, the duets of The Magic Flute, falling in love, the father stopping the relationship, the daughter stopping her singing? Papin stopping singing and his old age? His commendation of Babette?

16. The society of the town: the people, church, the shops, the grocer?

17. The members of the sect, the old aunt and her attendance, the two women, cattiness, the past affairs, the brothers and their past feuds and their saying, 'Hallelujah'?

18. The portrait of Babette: in exile? The cook and artist? Self-effacing yet shrewd, with the fishermen, the shopkeepers? Her silent service, gratitude? Adaptation to Jutland, the language? winning the lottery and her joy? Her concern about the sisters, the memory of the minister and his feast? no expense spared, delight in planning and artistry? Not appearing at the feast? The sisters praising her and hoping for recognition in heaven? Her transforming the group? The coachman and his final 'I thank you'?

19. The portrait of Europeans in the 19th century? Humanity? Religion? Spirituality?