Babette's Feast main backdrop
Babette's Feast main poster

Babette's Feast

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7.2/10 • 408

1987-08-111h 44m

Drama

Artistic, sensual and sacred passions unite in Babette's Feast.

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.

Directors
Gabriel Axel
Editors
Finn Henriksen

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Stéphane Audran

    Stéphane Audran

    Babette Hersant

  2. Bodil Kjer

    Bodil Kjer

    Filippa

  3. Birgitte Federspiel

    Birgitte Federspiel

    Martine

  4. Jarl Kulle

    Jarl Kulle

    Gen. Lorens Löwenhielm

  5. Jean-Philippe Lafont

    Jean-Philippe Lafont

    Achille Papin

  6. Bibi Andersson

    Bibi Andersson

    Swedish Lady-in-Waiting

  7. Ghita Nørby

    Ghita Nørby

    Narrator (voice)

  8. Asta Esper Hagen Andersen

    Asta Esper Hagen Andersen

    Anna

  9. Thomas Antoni

    Thomas Antoni

    Swedish Lieutenant

Reviews3

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CRCulver Avatar

CRCulver

Sep 12, 2018

5/10

Based on a Karen Blixen story, Babette's Feast 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. Dedicated to their father's work, they turn down the courtship of a Danish officer and a French musician. Decades later, the musician sends them Babette, a refugee from the destruction of the Paris Commune, in the hope that the sisters can shelter her and employ her as a maid. When she wins an annual lottery, Babette decides to put on a feast for her employers, but no one expects the depths of selflessness she goes to. Babette's Feast is entertaining enough, and it gives an idea of just how dull and messy life in Jutland was at this time. The details of the feast will make you salivate and dust off the French cookbook, and certainly the ending will make you say "Aww" in spite of how clumsily it's put on film. Otherwise the acting isn't too revelatory, and the humour is pretty basic (the same joke is even used twice). One professional reviewer said this doesn't aim much higher than a television movie, and I'd have to agree.

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  • Babette's Feast poster
  • Babette's Feast poster
  • Babette's Feast poster
  • Babette's Feast poster
  • Babette's Feast poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
Danish
Budget
--
Revenue
$4,398,938.00
Keywords
servantcharitycommunity servicefeastreconciliationsectfrenchwomancoastal villagemaster servant relationshipgourmetfrench cuisinefine dininggenerositygourmet cooksister sister relationshipselflessnessgastronomiapiety