The elderly guests enjoying their meal (image from here)
For some reason I was sitting at work the other day and the words 'Babette's Feast' popped into my head. So I did a little searching and discovered the 1987 film Babette's Feast was available at my library for borrowing.
Lets just say I loved the film and it was amazing. To fully appreciate the film you need to watch it. But it is a testimony to the power of food to heal and mend broken relationships, hearts and minds. Babette's meal has not just physical nurturing power but also spiritual and emotional. The film is a love story about friendship, family and good food. The actors were all amazing though I felt sorry for the cute little quail who were to become 'Cailles en sarcophage' and the turtle who was to become soup.
The story is different from other films about food in that it is not about greed or sensuality. Here food is a spiritually uplifting experience to be enjoyed and not shunned as a base physical experience. Babette prepares the food out of love and as a true artist. From the richness of her art she creates an extraordinary experience for all those dining, even if they don't quite know what they are eating!
The guests are members of a strict religious community who seek spiritual rather than physical pleasures. They vow not to mention the food at all during the meal...watch the film to find out why!
