Food in Film and Literature

Food in Film and Literature

Babette’s Feast is a short story that was authored by Isak Dinesen and published in 1958. The short story was among other stories that were included in the collection that was portrayed as ‘Anecdotes of Destiny.’ The film, based on the short story, was directed and produced in 1987 in Denmark. The plot indicates the story of a widowed man who assisted by his two daughters; Martine and Philippa. The story later builds on the Babette, a cook that has devoted her life to serving the two sisters. She is portrayed to not only gain the trust of the two daughters but the admiration of the entire community. Moreover, Babette is depicted to have made attempts to win the French lottery. However, one day she receives a notification from France for having won 10,000 francs in a lottery. Babette, through the money obtained from the feast, has resorted to help the two sisters to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of their father (Dinesen 47). It can be developed the feast that is organized by Babette in the celebration is a real French party. However, it is appropriate to indicate that the adaptation of the short story in a film that reveals individual differences. It can be further established from the Danish Fil that was produced in 1987, that the film does not engage in equating sensory with sex. The films appear more religious as it insists on the existence of the vision of spiritual well-being with society. Consequently, it is reasonable to maintain that Babette’s feast film is not religious, however, It compares with the short story in terms of the food such as from the Peasant delicacies to French Haute Cuisine, religious orthodox beliefs to lustful feelings, and use of simple hymns with the story too complicated Mozart’s opera in the film.

It is correct to develop that the short story that was authored by Dinesen differs from the adapted film in terms of the location of the feast that has been organized by Babette. It can be brought from the story that Babette held the feast in Jutland, Denmark. In 2017, a film based on the Babette feast, it is apparent to indicate that it takes place in Paris, France (Lattanzio Ch 3). The change of location from a remote village in Denmark means the transformation that has taken place in the reproduction of the film. Moreover, the feast that is developed in Paris as well as filming at the same time reveals the differences between the film and the movie. The gap that exists between the short story and the film is based on the food that is consumed. It is apparent to indicate that in the movie, Babette has prepared a full French Haute cuisine. The feast reveals the relevant French traditional practices based on ready meals. Moreover, from the film, it can be established that the French Cuisine is associated with great transformative powers through the 2017 remake. The short story that reveals the party being held in Jutland does not show on the expensive French Cuisine at the dinner tables. However, it attempts to reveal the diverse traditional foods that Babette’s feast brings to people who attended. The short story compares to the film by expounding on the bread and ale soup that was taken by the individuals that participated in the party. Babette’s 1871 party, therefore, seems to be simple in terms of the food made. The film, based on the story, goes ahead to change the location and reveal on full French Haute cuisine that is prepared during the party. The story insists on taking peasant food, which is Ale soul and bread, as compared to the dinner tables in Paris where the complete French cuisine is served. It can, therefore, be established that the film and the story differ in terms of the location of the feast and the type of food taken within the party.

Furthermore, the film and story compare in terms of the period when the Babette feast takes place. It is indicated in Isak Dinesen’s story that Babette organized the party in 1871. It is connected to the period after she won 10,000 francs and had opted to celebrate the pastor’s hundred anniversary together with the daughters. In the remake of the film, it is worth establishing that the feast took place in 2017. The difference in the time indicates the diverse nature of the foods that are served in both parties.

It can also be developed that the religious implications associated with the feast in the story and film differ. It is essential to establish that the film takes place in Paris with a full set, and the people are served with French cuisine. The 2017 film indicates on the sacramentality of the last supper. Despite being portrayed with unreligious proceedings, it is depicted to bring grace and to the families and communities through the power associated with it (Philips Ch 3). Hence, it is right to establish that based on the food served in the parties in both the film and story, there are different religious implications associated with it. In the short story, the feast is depicted to take place in 1871, in a Scandinavian village in Denmark. The peasant foods have made that are Ale soup, and unleavened bread have a religious implication of the last supper. It establishes the practices of a small Christian sect that opts to take part in the feast as a form of spiritual cleansing (Vazsonyi 8). Therefore, the 2017 film that builds on the dinner tables in Paris has little religious implications as compared to the 1871 Babette’s feast that involves foods such as bread and Ale soup.

The two can further compare in terms of the prayer hymns at the feast in the story as compared to Mozart’s opera in the film. The guest in the story is entertained through the use of religious hymn songs. It can be developed from the story that the 1871 participants in the feast were a small group of a Lutheran Christian sect that was committed towards the singing of the hymns and further involved in charity work within the society. Therefore, it is appropriate to indicate that during the party, the prayer hymns are sung. However, on the other hand, it is probable to establish that the Babette feast in the 2017 film remake is accompanied by Mozart opera Don Giovanni (Dinesen 53). The distinct difference between the two indicates the intensity of religion that is associated with the film and story. The film is also related to carnal knowledge through actions in the Mozart opera. However, in the story, it is correct to indicate that religious piety is highly portrayed through the actions involved during the feast of singing prayer hymns.

In conclusion, it is plausible to assert that the film is not religious-based on the carnal knowledge indicated within it. Moreover, the differences that exist between the story and film include peasant foods to French cuisine differences; in the story, the feast takes place in 1871 while in the movie, it took place in 2017. It can also be indicated that in the story, prayer hymns are used to entertain guests while in the film, Mozart opera Don Giovanni is used. The differences further reveal the religious implications that are developed by the on the feasts both in the movie and story.