January 5 - Babette's Feast

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092603/

 1. The story is based in Jutland.  Using Google, find information about Jutland.  Where is it located? 

Jutland is a peninsula that sticks out of northern Europe and forms the mainland of Denmark. There are three regions of the peninsula: North Jutland, Central Jutland, and the Region of Southern Denmark.  One interesting thing about Jutland is that in World War 1, there was one of the largest naval battles in history that took place here.

2.   This is a movie about celebrating the senses – how does the director of the movie enable you to experiences the senses? (i.e. how is French cuisine used with transformative powers in this movie? How does hearing music inform the power of sight?)

When the people in the movie tasted the French cuisine, it changes the way that they think. They were not happy about having such a worldly meal, so they did not want to talk about the food they were eating and wanted to eat in silence.  The food is so delicious to them that is changes them.  They become happy and changes the way that they think about each other. For example, two men were angry with each other because one felt cheated while the other denied it, but after the feast they come to an understating between the two.

3.   Babette is both a cook and an artist.  When she says, “I made them happy”, what is she conveying?

As an artist, Babette’s art is the food that she created.  With that art, she made the people happy. They forgave each other of the wrongs that they had done and they got over being at odds with each other. 

4.    Are you able to trace Christian themes of sin and salvation in this movie? (Use any one of the characters in the movie)

For Babette’s character, the sisters believed that she was worldly and wicked because of the food that she is preparing. They think that it is wrong to eat the food that she makes so they make a decision to not talk about the food that they eat. They come to realize that the food is amazing and it changes the way that they interact with each other. They come to see the amazing talent of Babette. 

5.   In this movie, there is a strong contrast between the material and the immaterial. Are Christians expected to choose one or the other?

      

      As Christians, we are not to be obsessed with material things.  It is not wrong to have material things and to enjoy these things, but we should not be so concerned with material things that we devout our lives to them.  We are not expected to choose between the two, but if the material things in our life are becoming the center of our lives, that is when we need to consider how it is impacting our lives. 

6.    If you had to write an Afterword to this story, what would it be? (it could be along the following line.. how do you think the two sisters and Babette’s relationship may be different after the feast?  or how may they remain the same?)

The relationship between the two sisters and Babette will be changed greatly because of the feast. There is more of an understanding between them because the sisters know more about who she really is.  They will be able to appreciate her more and the work that she does for them.