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Babette's Feast

Original title: Babettes gæstebud
  • 1987
  • G
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
21K
YOUR RATING
Stéphane Audran in Babette's Feast (1987)
Theatrical Trailer from Orion Pictures
Play trailer1:27
1 Video
77 Photos
Drama

During the late 19th century, a strict religious community in a Danish village takes in a French refugee from the Franco-Prussian War as a servant to the late pastor's daughters.During the late 19th century, a strict religious community in a Danish village takes in a French refugee from the Franco-Prussian War as a servant to the late pastor's daughters.During the late 19th century, a strict religious community in a Danish village takes in a French refugee from the Franco-Prussian War as a servant to the late pastor's daughters.

  • Director
    • Gabriel Axel
  • Writers
    • Karen Blixen
    • Gabriel Axel
  • Stars
    • Stéphane Audran
    • Bodil Kjer
    • Birgitte Federspiel
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.8/10
    21K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Gabriel Axel
    • Writers
      • Karen Blixen
      • Gabriel Axel
    • Stars
      • Stéphane Audran
      • Bodil Kjer
      • Birgitte Federspiel
    • 127User reviews
    • 61Critic reviews
    • 78Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 12 wins & 9 nominations total

    Videos1

    Babette's Feast
    Trailer 1:27
    Watch Babette's Feast

    Photos77

    Stéphane Audran in Babette's Feast (1987)
    Vibeke Hastrup, Pouel Kern, and Hanne Stensgaard in Babette's Feast (1987)
    Stéphane Audran, Birgitte Federspiel, and Bodil Kjer in Babette's Feast (1987)
    Vibeke Hastrup, Pouel Kern, and Hanne Stensgaard in Babette's Feast (1987)
    Asta Esper Hagen Andersen, Jarl Kulle, and Ebba With in Babette's Feast (1987)
    Jean-Philippe Lafont in Babette's Feast (1987)
    Stéphane Audran in Babette's Feast (1987)
    Stéphane Audran in Babette's Feast (1987)
    Stéphane Audran, Birgitte Federspiel, and Bodil Kjer in Babette's Feast (1987)
    Birgitte Federspiel and Jarl Kulle in Babette's Feast (1987)
    Vibeke Hastrup and Gudmar Klöfving in Babette's Feast (1987)
    Stéphane Audran in Babette's Feast (1987)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Stéphane Audran
    Stéphane Audran
    • Babette Hersant
    • (as Stephane Audran)
    Bodil Kjer
    Bodil Kjer
    • Filippa
    Birgitte Federspiel
    Birgitte Federspiel
    • Martine
    Jarl Kulle
    Jarl Kulle
    • General Lorens Löwenhielm…
    Jean-Philippe Lafont
    Jean-Philippe Lafont
    • Achille Papin
    • (as Jean Philippe Lafont)
    Bibi Andersson
    Bibi Andersson
    • Swedish Lady-in-Waiting
    Ghita Nørby
    Ghita Nørby
    • Narrator
    • (voice)
    Asta Esper Hagen Andersen
    • Anna
    • (as Asta Esper Andersen)
    Thomas Antoni
    • Swedish Lieutenant
    Gert Bastian
    • Poor Man
    Viggo Bentzon
    • Fisherman in Rowboat
    Vibeke Hastrup
    Vibeke Hastrup
    • Young Martine
    Therese Højgaard Christensen
    • Martha - Father's Maid
    Pouel Kern
    Pouel Kern
    • Pastor
    Cay Kristiansen
    • Poul
    Lars Lohmann
    • Fisherman
    Tine Miehe-Renard
    • Löwenhielm's Wife
    Lisbeth Movin
    Lisbeth Movin
    • Widow
    • Director
      • Gabriel Axel
    • Writers
      • Karen Blixen
      • Gabriel Axel
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      First Danish movie to win an Academy Award for best foreign language film.
    • Goofs
      In 1871 Babette pays with skilling, which was the currency used at that time; 14 years later, Babette still uses skilling, but Denmark changed the currency in 1875 from skilling to kroner and orer.
    • Quotes

      General Lorens Löwenhielm: Mercy and truth have met together. Righteousness and bliss shall kiss one another. Man, in his weakness and shortsightedness believes he must make choices in this life. He trembles at the risks he takes. We do know fear. But no. Our choice is of no importance. There comes a time when our eyes are opened and we come to realize that mercy is infinite. We need only await it with confidence and receive it with gratitude. Mercy imposes no conditions. And lo! Everything we have chosen has been granted to us. And everything we rejected has also been granted. Yes, we even get back what we rejected. For mercy and truth have met together, and righteousness and bliss shall kiss one another.

    • Connections
      Edited into Eventyret om dansk film 18: Nye perspektiver - 1970-1987 (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      Waltz in A flat Op.39 No.15, arranged for orchestra
      (uncredited)

      Written by Johannes Brahms

      Played during the dance hosted by the Royal family

    User reviews127

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    incredible surprise
    This movie is almost unknown, but it is very good. In a lonely Danish town, two old sisters live remembering a far youths, when, due to a strict puritan education, they had to reject happiness. Lonely, then, the live in a dignified austerity, until Babette, who flies from Paris, frightened by the horror of the war, arrives. In few time, she will be able to turn the goodness and love she received when she arrived. A good lottery prize lets her organize a great banquet, following the best rules of French gastronomy. All neighbourhoods are invited (all fanatically puritans). They accept, but they pact to not show any trace of pleasure or enjoyment, as it would be a sin. However, the seductive force of the delicious meal they eat, that they become seduced by the sensuality of French gastronomy. The banquet end in a very felt, though quietly, happiness. The love between humans has awaken. The miracle of rise the human kindness due to the pleasure of the sense has begun. The movie is surprisingly good, but it is not for all tastes. During most of the movie, nothing happens, all is so quiet and so peaceful, that during many minutes, you can only see the life of the inhabitants of the town. But, as the movie develops, it becomes more precious, when Babette wins the lottery prize (after 30min movie), the show begins. The author is able, with a perfect directing, to show us how Babette prepares the banquet, how she mixes all the ingredients with the most wonderful one (Love), all told in a quiet delicious way, with a perfect knowledge of photography and acting. Then, as the banquet goes by, the quality in showing us how the mood of all eaters changes due to the meal, only with first shots, with impressively filmed scenes one after another is simply astonishing. In addition, the tact with the colours and the photography is also superb, almost every scene of the movie is like a picture, so work is involved there. If you are able to admire good cinema and are able to realize that sometimes the way on telling you something rather than what is told is more important, this is your movie. If you happen to like good meals and just love the good gastronomy, probably, you'll feel amused, as most feelings of the movie will be familiar to you. An Oscar totally deserved. The only problem is its slowness at setting up the story, but, I can forgive it (I hope everyone too)
    helpful•20
    0
    • dcldan
    • Sep 21, 2007

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    FAQ3

    • Who is the man sitting in the kitchen?
    • What is the dinnerware used in Babette's Feast?
    • What is the menu for the feast?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 4, 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Denmark
    • Languages
      • Danish
      • French
      • Swedish
      • Italian
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Babettes Fest
    • Filming locations
      • Copenhagen, Denmark
    • Production companies
      • Panorama Film A/S
      • Nordisk Film
      • Det Danske Filminstitut
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,398,938
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,637,920
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 43 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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