Happiness by Living Life Simply
Babette’s Feast (Gabriel Axel 1988), centers around Martine and Philippa, two sisters living in a protestant parish in Jutland. For them, food is used for sustenance rather than pleasure. Unexpectedly, a refugee from Paris shows up at their doorstep. The woman’s name is Babette and she is taken in by the two sisters. Having lost everything at the hands of a vengeful revolution, Babette rebuilds her life around the bland gastronomy of the parsonage. As a famous chef from France, her previous life was extravagant, so the food in Jutland is a shocking change. The parsonage values simplicity in order to become closer to God. By removing the temptations of food and drink, they completely devote their lives to learning …show more content…
The buildings are no more than two stories tall, with thatched roofs and little curb appeal. Each item in the household is needed for a purpose, whether it may be for cooking or for comfort. Anything else would be extraneous. The same ominous color palette as the protestants’ clothing exists throughout the homes. However, while the dwellings may seem depressing, they create a cozy and comforting living environment. Babette, a French woman from the worldly city of Paris, chooses to settle in this pious establishment for the comfort it provides. Jutland is uncomplicated and serves to bring clarity into her life after losing everything she held dear in France. Back and France, her family was killed at the hands of a merciless general, and after that happened, she didn’t want to have anything to do with her native country. The only connection she has to France is a winning lottery ticket she ends up using to cater an extravagant dinner for the two sisters and their …show more content…
The sisters meet with their neighbors whom agree not to speak of the food during the feast, explaining that they have lost their sense of taste through years of following their simple gastronomy. Indeed, throughout the feast they make no mention of the exotic food in conversation. Opposite to the villagers, General Lowenheilm, floored by the quality of the dishes and alcohol, provides cheerful commentary on the food he is eating. He identifies the champagne as a Veuve Clicquot 1860, and appreciates the exotic dishes served. His neighbor, barely understanding what the general is telling him, responds with a comment about the weather. However, as the alcohol begins to kick in, the diners start to speak of the sisters’ father and the wonderful things that he had done for their community. They then become merry and rejoice after dinner. While not acknowledged, the entire community is brought closer through the feast that was prepared by
Babette’s Feast (Gabriel Axel 1988), centers around Martine and Philippa, two sisters living in a protestant parish in Jutland. For them, food is used for sustenance rather than pleasure. Unexpectedly, a refugee from Paris shows up at their doorstep. The woman’s name is Babette and she is taken in by the two sisters. Having lost everything at the hands of a vengeful revolution, Babette rebuilds her life around the bland gastronomy of the parsonage. As a famous chef from France, her previous life was extravagant, so the food in Jutland is a shocking change. The parsonage values simplicity in order to become closer to God. By removing the temptations of food and drink, they completely devote their lives to learning …show more content…
The buildings are no more than two stories tall, with thatched roofs and little curb appeal. Each item in the household is needed for a purpose, whether it may be for cooking or for comfort. Anything else would be extraneous. The same ominous color palette as the protestants’ clothing exists throughout the homes. However, while the dwellings may seem depressing, they create a cozy and comforting living environment. Babette, a French woman from the worldly city of Paris, chooses to settle in this pious establishment for the comfort it provides. Jutland is uncomplicated and serves to bring clarity into her life after losing everything she held dear in France. Back and France, her family was killed at the hands of a merciless general, and after that happened, she didn’t want to have anything to do with her native country. The only connection she has to France is a winning lottery ticket she ends up using to cater an extravagant dinner for the two sisters and their …show more content…
The sisters meet with their neighbors whom agree not to speak of the food during the feast, explaining that they have lost their sense of taste through years of following their simple gastronomy. Indeed, throughout the feast they make no mention of the exotic food in conversation. Opposite to the villagers, General Lowenheilm, floored by the quality of the dishes and alcohol, provides cheerful commentary on the food he is eating. He identifies the champagne as a Veuve Clicquot 1860, and appreciates the exotic dishes served. His neighbor, barely understanding what the general is telling him, responds with a comment about the weather. However, as the alcohol begins to kick in, the diners start to speak of the sisters’ father and the wonderful things that he had done for their community. They then become merry and rejoice after dinner. While not acknowledged, the entire community is brought closer through the feast that was prepared by