Esta adaptação reimagina o conto clássico de Dinesen como um rico evento teatral: profundo, engraçado, sensual, perigoso e belo. Ele nos traz para o mundo enclausurado do século 19 de duas irmãs luteranas devotas e amorosas e nos conta como elas e sua comunidade fraturada relutantemente, depois completamente, abraçam Babette, uma misteriosa refugiada francesa. Mas quando Babette, para grande choque da comunidade, sacrifica tudo o que tem para dar um jantar luxuoso, os convidados do jantar experimentam mágica e inexplicavelmente a graça radical e infinita. A festa suntuosa de Babette é mais do que uma refeição: é um ato de arte suprema que convida a uma experiência abundante de perdão e transforma toda a comunidade. Através da festa de Babette, aprendemos como abraçar o estranho pode mudar uma comunidade para melhor. ( )

"I am a great artist!" (damnit!)

I wasn't a fan of this one, but I have to appreciate the richness of the scenes that Blixen described. With her Gothic Tales as part of her repertoire, I cannot help but feel that there is something else going on underneath Babette's Feast; she brings in French food to an austere group like a colonizer and without telling them what they are eating. Then, in the last 2-3 pages the brief mention of a dish served in Africa to Missionaries that contained one of the Chief's grandchildren is dropped. Her ego on full display when she proclaims multiple times how she isn't just an artist but a GREAT artist stands in wild contrast to the demure lifestyle that she's been living among for the past 12 years. Maybe she just couldn't take it anymore being around those without "culture".

The book and film have garnered worldwide acclaim for being a "spiritually transformative" work, however I can't shake the feeling that Blixen is trying to do something subversive. ( )

> Le festin de Babette, de Karen BLIXEN (Gallimard, 1988)
Se reporter à la critique de Nicole CÔTÉ
In: (1988). Compte rendu de [Littérature étrangère]. Nuit blanche, (34), p. 54… ; (en ligne),
URL : https://id.erudit.org/iderudit/20114ac

Sisters Martine and Philippa belong to a ascetic, minimalist sect in Norway. They are happy to offer asylum to a French chef, Babette, who is on the run from the French government, but they will only allow her to cook simple Norwegian meals so they can give as much of their money as possible to the poor. Many years later, the girls are concerned that their beloved Babette will leave them, because she has recently come into some money. Babette is mum on the matter but asks permission to cook one real French meal for the founder of the sect, the sisters' late father.

A beautiful, poignant, borderline-perfect short story. You all know of my love for fancy food, so it should come as no surprise that this story really touched me. And I love short stories so I will be on the lookout for more by Dinesen/Karen Blixen. ( )

arrival of Babette- a mysterious refugee from France in small Danish hamlet encourages 2 austere sisters and their community to try something outrageous-- a gourmet French meal! 1 hour 43 minutes