'Babette's Feast' | Critics' Picks | The New York Times

A. O. Scott looks at what this unusual Danish film has to say about our own Thanksgiving feast.
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Critics' Picks - Critics' Picks: 'Babette's Feast' -- NYTimes.com/Video
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[@gloriaa3652]

The central theme, to me, comes from the fact that Babette gave everything of herself, without fear and with all her love and gratitude, to the sisters who had helped her when she was without shelter, a home, love and food. She is so much, an artist who has seen so much more of life than have the sisters and their community. And she lays it all out for them even though they may not understand it at all-and almost don’t; everyone who loves to cook, or loves food for that matter, can appreciate the love she put into the preparation of the food. That is what gives this movie it’s spiritual theme and why, when you mention this movie, there are always people who step and start talking about how much it means to them, how it played a part in their growth. Really, it is about food, but it is a deeply spiritual movie.

[@windstorm1000]

I couldn't agree with you more Mr. Scott. A beautiful movie with humorus sidelights, touching scenes of loss and inner strength amongst the culinary feast. And hearing Danish in the native windswept scenes was an added treat. OUr Scandinavean Club of Santa Fe just watched the film to the delight of one and all.

[@CuteCatFaith]

Uprated, shared. My favorite movie, though of course there are other favorites. This one has religion or spirituality, horses, food, music, dancing, a foreign language for me, period attire, an impossible love or situation, no happy ending. Stephane is amazing. I've seen so many of her movies and never saw her miss. Second wife of Chabrol. Lots of humorous looks at human behavior in this one. For me, cooking is an act of love and meditation. Greetings from France via Italy and the USA.

[@albertloan396]

It's hard to have a favorite film, but if I had to choose, this one is it.

[@j.sumner6999]

My favorite movie. There are other movies I love, but none quite so fulfilling to me as this one.

[@stevenxia2944]

agree, I got the similar feeling too, magical.

[@gokalpmetininpapyonlusu5810]

My favourite movie also

[@blurdreamer]

I always laugh at the scene where the sister demonstrate how to cook a dreadful meal to Babette. lol

[@jacobmorris3664]

Ale bread lol

[@dennisboyd1712]

For my Danish Christian Grandmother and Mother;s family the Jensens and Paulson's, I say lovely, wonderful act of love not just words of gratitude but of Babette Christian action of kindness to these poor kind Danes.

[@channa1955]

This is one of my favorites!!

[@Charles15101980]

Un trés trés beau. Je le vois maintes et maintes fois et je me lasse jamais de le voir.

[@fergalhughes165]

Huston's 'The Dead' (based on a James Joyce short story) too concerns a lengthy meal

[@jodejack]

This movie is number 2 on my list of favorite movies. Thanks for featuring it.

[@ffelegal]

What would be your first one?

[@anderspeterjohnsen8718]

There is no such thing as a "Danish novelist named Isak Dinesen", as it was the pen name of Karen Blixen: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Blixen

[@beldengi]

Anders Peter Johnsen Actually according to Wikipedia her birth name was Karen Dinesen. As the married woman Karen Blixen she lived and wrote "Out of Africa" but reverted to the Dinesen name after divorce. I had the pleasure of visiting the "Out of Africa " farm in Kenya.

[@Olm9]

Det slog også mig, Anders 😊 Ærlig misforståelse

[@christoffer3949]

Isak Dinesen is a pseudonym, the author's real name is Karen Blixen

[@TedMichaelMorgan]

@pulivojkok Splendid film and story. One of my favourites!

[@mrspeel7]

@hotwok19 Thank you so much for your comment. Agnosticism, and even Atheism, does not automatically imply that one has no values! This is one of the loveliest films I've ever seen. Positive life lessons are valid, no matter what one's personal beliefs might be.

[@renzo6490]

This is a good film to pair with The Baghdad Cafe. Both are about a single woman, an outsider, who comes into a rather sad, worn out society and brings it new life.

[@sugarspiceandeverythingnic4803]

One of my favorite movies!

[@harleyboyd9998]

Love this movie Makes me home sick for Denmark

[@djm51x]

great film

[@Uilenstede48]

@selfidentity1 Man! I'm having a break when watching Lawrence of Arabia. Seeing this Babette's Feast link in my friend's facebook wall, follows it up, and, voila, I see this comment of yours in the second line. Speaking of serendipity :D

[@stevenxia2944]

The general speaks Swedish, I can hear the differences to Danish although they understand each other.

[@patpongmichiko]

The meal, the feast, is an allegory of the Eucharist. Babette is Jesus, by analogy.

[@ann-helenhasan9854]

stop;;;;her name is Karen Blixen.!!!shame on you Scott

[@JosuaPoulsen]

she published it under the pseudonym Isak Dinesen

[@bebetimader]

wrong name is KAREN BLIXEN

[@AMARS11663]

I wonder? All the dinner was healthy for a group of old men and women?

[@thecook8964]

Oh, for god's sake🙄Karen

[@shadelings]

A.O. Scott didn't actually watch the movie! How embarrassing! (Oh, A.O Scott doesn't work for the NY Times any more??? Shocker.) *Spoiler Alert For Babette's Feast* I always expect entertainment reporters to actually know what the frack they're talking about by actually watching or listening to said media they're covering, yet with A.O Scott, that doesn't appear to be the case that he did watch Babette's Feast because otherwise he would know that in the movie, Babette tells the sisters she spent every last franc she had, from winning the lottery, and thus, isn't going anywhere. She did not 'treat the sisters to a lavish dinner before going back to France', it was much, much, MUCH more poignant than that. But I guess a hack like Scott wouldn't really have any idea about that, only someone who actually watched the movie would.

[@muddeer5383]

I agree. It's a good film, but this reviewer missed the main, and really obvious, point of the movie.

[@j.p.4910]

Not sure thats the case, the film is far too nuanced to describe in detail in 3 minutes. He simply didn't have time to mention. AO Scott, love him or hate him is a veritable institution.

[@kelkabot]

I'm thinking he didn't want to give away a major spoiler.

[@shadelings]

@@j.p.4910 A veritable institution who doesn't bother to watch the movies he is supposed to review? Mmm kay. Some 'institution', that.

[@HealthyPlanet]

Hello. I enjoyed this story except for the taking of other living being's lives, like the sea turtle, that may or may not be real in this film.

[@jsfbr]

Deborah Marchant Hi, Deborah. I'm a long time vegetarian (38 years now), so I fully understand what you mean, but that has been the prevailing reality of life since times immemorial... Anyway, I still rate this movie as the best I've ever watched, and it brings tears to my eyes whenever I see it. Wishing you the very best.

[@mrspeel7]

@hotwok19 Thank you so much for your comment. Agnosticism, and even Atheism, does not automatically imply that one has no values! This is one of the loveliest films I've ever seen. Positive life lessons are valid, no matter what one's personal beliefs might be.