Common Sense Note
Parents should know that adults in this movie can be judgemental (sometimes comically so) and that the father of two girls keeps them from experiencing life. During a grand dinner, the teenage server sneaks several gulps of wine. For the feast, Babette imports many live animals and kills them herself, which may disturb vegetarian or sensitive kids.
Families can discuss how Martina and Philippa deal with their overprotective father. How much control should a parent have of his child's destiny?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Heather Boerner
What's life without love, great food, and good drink? Pretty gray and solemn -- that is, until French cook Babette comes into the lives of Martina and Philippa, the spinster sisters at the center of BABETTE'S FEAST.
The sisters are born to a strict, Puritanical father who's the leader of his own religious sect on the wind-swept shores of 19th century Denmark. Long after he's gone, the women continue to do good works caring for the sick and elderly, and continue to lead his diminuitive congregation. But they also continue to deny themselves life -- love and romance are useless emotions and a waste of spirit. Still, they're young and beautiful, and they are tempted -- first by a townsman, then by a charming military officer, and then by a French stage performer. Each time, either they demure or their father rejects the proposals.
Once Babette arrives, fleeing the French Revolution, things aren't nearly so dour. She replaces their evening porridge with seasoned soups and fresher fish. She haggles. And when she wins a lottery, she prepares a "real French dinner" for the sisters and their congregants. Once the meal is announced, the film really begins to shine. The characters become quirky and bickering. One sister has nightmares about the sin of drinking wine.
And the rest is a cinematic feast. Like other divine food films, such as Big Night and Chocolat, the food and drink magically lighten spirits and capture the revelry of a truly great meal. But kids are unlikely to get that. Though the film is short -- just over an hour and a half -- its subtitles and the conspicuous lack of sex appeal of its mostly elderly cast are likely to turn off younger audiences. What? No making out, just kisses on the hand and light pecks on the cheek? Only the truly romantic, who also love Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre, or young gastronomes who also appreciate Top Chef are likely to have the patience to appreciate this Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Film.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentChaste kisses on the hand are the most action these characters see. |
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ViolenceBabette imports many live animals and kills them herself. |
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Social BehaviorBabette learns the importance of home and giving to her chosen family. Martina and Philippa also do good works for the poor and elderly. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoDuring the feast, characters get drunk and the teenage serving boy sneaks gulps of wine. |
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