How a French refugee transformed a pious Danish village through the art of cooking
In short: In 1987, Gabriel Axel’s Babette’s Feast became the first Danish film to win an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. It tells the story of a Parisian refugee who spends her lottery winnings on a lavish, transformative meal for a group of austere, aging villagers who fear the sin of pleasure.
Based on a 1958 story by Isak Dinesen, the film follows two elderly, pious sisters in a remote 19th-century Jutland village. They take in Babette Hersant, a refugee from Paris, who serves as their cook for fourteen years. When Babette wins 10,000 francs in a lottery, she decides to use the entire sum to prepare a sumptuous French feast for the community, honoring the hundredth birthday of the sisters' late father.
The villagers, fearing the meal might be a form of devilry or sensual luxury, agree to eat the food but vow to remain silent about any pleasure it brings. However, the presence of a worldly guest, General Lorens Löwenhielm, changes the tone. As a former attaché in Paris, he recognizes the extraordinary quality of the meal, comparing it to the legendary Café Anglais. His appreciation helps break down the villagers' superstitions, leading to a moment of mystical redemption where old wrongs are forgiven and ancient loves are rekindled.
The film’s production was a deliberate act of international collaboration. Director Gabriel Axel insisted on a diverse cast, including French actress Stéphane Audran as Babette, despite pressure to use only Danish actors to save costs. Axel also made significant changes to the source material, shifting the setting from a Norwegian harbor to a windswept, desolate stretch of the Danish coast to emphasize Babette's sense of exile. The result is a work that remains a favorite of figures ranging from Pope Francis to filmmaker Stanley Tucci, celebrated for its exploration of art, faith, and the human spirit.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Babette's Feast
- Also: Wikidata — Babette's Feast · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Babette's Feast · CC0
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