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The Power of Food and The Protestant Ethics

When watching Babette's Feast, it's hard to ignore the religious overtones of the film. The entire plot revolves around how the power of religion impacts a remote town in Jutland, Denmark in the late 19th century. It is also easy to note how significant and dynamic the relationship between religion and food is throughout Babette's Feast, especially during the second half. The first 30 minutes on the film focuses more on the religious aspect and the sisters’ influence on the town.

The town is strictly devoted to the principles of the Lutheran faith and the memory of its Minister. And because of these principles, the town’s people live simple, secluded, and somewhat repressed lives. Both their love and fear of God inhibit them from trying anything new because, in their minds, anything different is seen by God as sinful. So Martine & Fillipa lead their people -with a hive mind mentality- to focus on loving the lord and the simple joys of life (since the lord teaches that extravagance isn’t needed to feel happy).

Although the people of this town think that their lives are fulfilled, they don’t actually know the experience of true joy until Babette cooks her authentic French feast. The feast makes them realize how vibrant life could be, it helps them feel comfortable enough to open up and do/say things that they normally would not do/say, and open their minds to new ideas of what truly pleases God. That is what food is supposed to do, introduce you to a newer happier world that you may not experience every day.

Overall, I personally don’t feel as though Babette’s Feast should be considered a “food” movie. Although food does play an important part in the film, that part does not occur until the 3rd Act nor does food move the plot forward. With most films, the topic of food is introduced within the first 10 minutes of the movie and drills it into your head that you are watching a food movie. But I will say, I do appreciate the lessons that Babette’s Feast teaches. 1) Change is not always a bad thing, it’s healthy. 2) Home may not be where you expect it to be. 3) Love comes in so many shapes and forms.

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