DVD Review for Babette's Feast
| Title | Genre | Director | Year | Rating | Rented By |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babette's Feast | Foreign | Axel, Gabriel | 2001 | G |
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About this film
Set in the nineteenth century, Babette's Feast tells the story of two Danish sisters who agree to give shelter to Babette, a war refugee from France, in exchange for her services as a cook. Years later when Babette comes into some money, she decides to express her gratitude to the sisters by fixing them an elaborate feast. The local villagers are invited to attend the feast as well. But the feast does more than merely fill their stomachs, it fills their spirits and ultimately changes the villagers' hearts.
Incidentally, this film is one of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's favorites. In a BYU Devotional, Truman G. Madsen tells us:
We watched this film years ago in the presence of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. He has written what for me is one of the clearest and most in-reaching talks ever given on the relationship of souls, symbols and sacraments. He helped me see this story as an elaborate metaphor of what the scriptures call the wedding supper---or the marriage supper---of the Lamb. Jesus, does indeed, liken the kingdom of heaven to a wedding feast. He calls the church His bride. And when she is adorned as a bride, He, as the Bridegroom, will come in triumphal reunion. To this consummating feast the poor and the meek of the earth will be invited. It will be a feast of feasts. All this was envisioned by President John Taylor, who said, "In the sacrament we 'shadow forth the time when He will come again and when we shall meet and eat bread with Him in the kingdom of God' " (JD 14:185, March 20, l870).
Alyssa's Thoughts
For the record, this film was a favorite of mine before I found out about Elder Holland's affinity for it. We checked this out from the library because my dad served his mission in Denmark and this is one of those rare Danish films that has been successful here in the US. This film is a family favorite.
I think every Mormon should see Babette's Feast. Beyond the symbolism of the wedding feast that I cited above, it has many other nice spiritual nuances that are worth pondering. At the very least, it's a beautiful expression of human kindness and gratitude.
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