This movie came aside as a shock in the eighties.Far from trends,that is to say in the heart of sincere creativity,Babettes gaestebud stands as one of the finest movies of its time.Stephane Audran,the wonderful actress of her ex-husband Claude Chabrol's greatest achievements (le boucher,la rupture,les noces rouges,all unqualified musts for movie buffs)gave a lifetime performance.To see her prepare with love and affection her meal is a feast for the eyes.All the people who saw this masterpiece actually tasted,ate Babette's culinary triumph. But the most moving part of the story is its conclusion:Babette was a great French chef,she was famous,now she found a new homeland but her heyday is behind her and she won't never be allowed to come back to her dear France.So the two old sisters do comfort her:In heaven,there will be huge kitchens where she'll cook for eternity.While sharing her fortune with her new friends,Babette changed their life,she gave them pleasure and a magic evening they would remember forever.In this simple but extraordinary screenplay,human warmth is everywhere,and I wish everybody a Babette's feast,would it be only for one starry night...

This is a very slow-moving and simple movie. The plot is so incredibly simple and yet it is a wonderful film. I think most of this is because the dialog was so perfectly paced and the ensemble cast was terrific.

Here's the VERY simple plot: Two very nice old religious ladies living in a religious commune in the 19th century take in Babette. She is a younger woman with some sort of past who is seeking refuge. The kindly women agree to have her live with them and she becomes part maid and part friend to them. The food and lifestyle of the commune is extremely simple and without adornments. After living with them for many years, Babette receives a large inheritance. She announces she is making a feast for these women and their friends. Most of the movie involves watching her prep for it and the ensuing feast.

I won't spoil it with more details but can understand if the reader of this review thinks "what a DULL-sounding movie"! However, despite its simplicity it was nearly perfect in every way. A good indication of how good this film was is that my wife (who generally HATES foreign films and thinks that I, at times, have questionable taste) also loved the film. She, too, had a hard time describing exactly why the film was so captivating but we both felt tremendously moved. This film is a wonderful example of great acting, directing and writing. No explosions or comic sidekicks but still one heck of a nice film!!

It's 19th century Denmark. Aged sisters Martine and Philippa live austere lives in a remote settlement founded by their father. He is long dead and the disciples are dwindling. The sisters have a french maid named Babette. The movie flashes back to the sisters as beautiful young women. The village is more vibrant. Officer Lorens Löwenhielm is sent to the remote coast and courts Martine. Opera star Achille Papin from Paris courts Philippa. Their father opposes both. They end up spending their lives taking care of their father. Later, the sisters take in French refugee Babette Hersant. Later still, Babette wins the lottery and asks to cook a delicious French meal for everybody in the village. The sisters relents and then fears the worst for their souls.

The strict pious manner really takes the life out of the material for me. It loses the passion and the excitement of the love stories. The narration puts another layer of separation between me and the immediacy of the romances. It becomes something of a stilted story. There is nothing much for the first half. Then it becomes magnificent food porn. It is funny and a joy. I just wish I didn't have to wait so long for it. The first half is no more than 3. The second half is a solid 7.