Babette's Feast ( Babettes gæstebud ) Movie Information

Your Rating

• This movie was an epic failure
• This movie was horrible
• This movie was not good
• This movie was average
• This movie was okay
• This movie was good
• This movie was great
• This movie was incredible

Movie Information

Overall Rank: 3690

Average Rating: 2.8/4

# of Ratings: 31

Theatrical Release Date: 10/01/1987

Blu-ray/DVD Release Date: 07/23/2013

Language: Swedish

Genre: Drama

MPAA Rating: G

Director: Gabriel Axel

Actors: Stéphane Audran, Birgitte Federspiel, Bodil Kjer, Jarl Kulle, Jean-Philippe Lafont, Ghita Nørby

Plot: In 19th Century Denmark a pair of sisters stay with their father, an honored Protestant pastor, even given the opportunity to leave. When a French woman and refugee, Babbette, arrives, she begs to be taken in becoming a maid/cook/housekeeper. The father eventually dies and, on his 100th anniversary, the sisters plan a celebration feast - one in which Babbette wants to plan and prepare. Despite some trepidation, the sisters agree and Babbette offers the community the meal of a lifetime, especially for one certain man. -- Chris Kavan

donkeyknight - wrote on 05/01/2011

It is criminal that this movie is not in the top 1000. One of the best foreign films made. Probably the best foodie movie made (beating out Like Water for Chocolate and Eat Drink Man Woman). My wife and I love this movie. It makes you want to savor food more. And as a bonus, it is an awesome allegory for Catholicism.

woody - wrote on 01/30/2011

The spiritual and restrained people of a northern community encounter the worldly and carnal when a French chef brings a bounteous gourmet feast to their bleak and austere world. They try not to enjoy it as long as they're able, but it's just too much to resist. It's a delight to watch it develop. Lots of food being prepared and eaten, filmed in a delectable way.

mitchellyoung - wrote on 09/28/2010

I hate to describe a film as "quaint," but, if a term can be applied to a film, this is that film. It's not too preachy, not too complicated, has a good heart and soul to it, and a compelling performance. I wasn't in love with it and it didn't stick with me for a long time, but, at the same time, it works.

symp4thedevil
TV Extra

"Babette's Feast" by Amanda

symp4thedevil - wrote on 10/04/2012

This is the definitive foodie film. Gabriel Axel's classic reflects on the simple joys of life and its spiritual rewards: the greatest chef in all of France, Babette, cooking the meal of meals to celebrate a small Christian sect's founder's birth. The sequence relies on the quirks and comments of the Danish General, who is in disbelief that he is eating the perfect meal from France's greatest chef. The members of the Church however, innocently believe the meal to be a witch's brew...misinterpreting the dinner to be less than what it is...later realizing as the General describes it "a meal that is turned into a love affair."

Its simplistic story has an underlining complexity. It doesn't mock the faith and what some might misinterpret as "closed-mindedness" of the Church presented. …