Babette's Feast (1987)

In the quaint seclusion of a 19th-century Danish village, life revolves around the church and its minister, who is father to a pair of dutiful sisters. As young women, each sister is presented with a chance to escape the village's quiet austerity: one through marriage to a dashing army officer, the other via the enchanting world of a French opera singer. Yet, their father's firm opposition chains them to their birthplace, and the sisters devote themselves to a life of service. Years later, following their father's death, the sisters' lives take an unexpected turn when they provide sanctuary to Babette Hersant, a French refugee fleeing the Franco-Prussian war. Babette, grateful for their kindness, becomes their housekeeper, serving them without asking for anything in return. Their tranquil existence continues undisturbed until fortune graces Babette in the form of a lottery win. This windfall coincides with the centennial of the sisters' father's birth, a man whose devout Christian teachings still resonate throughout the village. In an attempt to express her gratitude and honor the sisters' father, Babette proposes a celebratory feast. However, this is no ordinary meal; this will be a lavish French banquet, a far cry from the simple fare the villagers are accustomed to. As exotic ingredients begin to arrive, suspicion and curiosity spread among the villagers like a slow-burning fire. The anticipation of the unfamiliar and the extravagant stirs a mix of excitement and dread, leading them to wonder if something extraordinary or even unholy is about to unfold. Babette's Feast thus becomes a tantalizing spectacle that promises to awaken their senses, challenge their beliefs, and transform their world in ways they never imagined.

Babette's Feast is a drama movie featuring Stéphane Audran and directed by Gabriel Axel.

Babette's Feast is currently streaming on Criterion Channel and Max Amazon Channel.

It is also possible to buy Babette's Feast on Amazon Video and Apple TV.