Food that can change lives!

        We all wonder what it would be like to grow up in a protestant society. Well, Babette’s Feast is an accurate view of what our lives would be like. We see two sisters growing up in the 19th century in Denmark. Their lives were dedicated to religion and hard work. They lived with no excesses, but seemed completely happy and fulfilled through their life. They both had chances at love and chances to leave and easily turned them down. It was surprising to me that they never wondered what was outside of their little world and when giving the opportunity to travel turned it down. They are almost perceived as close-minded, especially when they are given a lavish elegant dinner and are scared to even try it. It is interesting to look at the difference between the two sisters and their unpaid maid, Babette. Babette had fled from France after her family was killed and sought safety with the sisters.
Babette had lived and worked for the sisters for many years when she won 10,000 francs in the lottery. The whole time she lived willingly in the town’s protestant beliefs, one could have believed she came from that upbringing. She never complained or made any comments about wanting to return to France. Her French culture finally came trough when she got the permission to cook a French meal for the sisters and their community. She spent her entire winnings on making this meal. We can see how much pride the French had in their food. The sight of it made the even viewers mouths water. It was apparent that food was one of the indulgences in their lives. The movie took a comedic turn during this dinner when all of the townspeople tried to suppress their urges to enjoy their food. We are able to see the real enjoyment in the General who did not grow up in this town and is a guest at the dinner. He verbalizes all the thoughts I am sure were going through the townspeople’s head.
Babette tried to show her appreciation to the two sisters by giving them a high class, expensive, and decadent meal. Although it was misperceived it taught all the dinner guests valuable lessons, like taking part in pleasures will not kill you. It would be interesting to see their lives after this meal and if they could live on just dried fish. Now that they were exposed to this food will they have new desires that they need to repress? They seemed to come together as a community during this meal and it solved a lot of the catty problems that were starting to come up in the elders.

Ashley Burger