 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Babette's Feast
- Review Date: July 26, 2005
- G
- Genre: Classic
- 1987
Common Sense Media says
A heartwarming feast for adults. May bore kids.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the 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.
What's the story?
What's life without love, great food, and good drink? Pretty gray and solemn -- that is, until French cook Babette (Stephane Audran) 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 lead his diminutive 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.
Is it any good?
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. 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. Only the truly romantic or young gastronomes are likely to have the patience to appreciate this Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Film.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how Martina and Philippa deal with their overprotective father. How much control should a parent have of his child's destiny?
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AGE
Not inappropriate for children, but unlikely to appeal to them
I love this movie. Why I love it is difficult to explain. It's much more than just a movie about a big dinner where everyone discovers the joys of eating. It's a movie about relationships, where things that are said have little meaning, but things that are not said speak volumes. People's facial expressions, gestures and microsignals convey a depth of emotion that cannot be fully understood in one, or even two or three viewings.
I wouldn't stop any children from watching it, but they most likely won't understand it and will sleep through most of it. It has some cigar-smoking (by the military officer) and some alcohol use (a lot during the dinner).
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AGE
Excellent way to show kids how to do things for others
Babette's feast will leave you with so much to talk about, from religious beliefs to eating habits around the world, The sisters take Babette as a maid and cook and in return Babette cooks a feast that bring the best out of each guest. The movie might seem boring and plain but as the feast unfold so does the story. There is some very mild drinking and smoking.
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| Studio: | MGM/UA |
| Director: | Gabriel Axel |
| Cast: | Birgitte Federspiel, Bodil Kjer, Stephane Audran |
| Genre: | Classic |
| Run time: | 103 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | October 1, 1987 |
| DVD release date: | January 23, 2001 |
| MPAA rating: | G |
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