Text | Jia Nan
One vegetable and one meal is the basic desire of human beings. There are many movies about food. Watch "The God of Sushi" to experience the heart of Japanese craftsmen in simple ingredients, and watch "Julie and Julia" to search for yourself from 524 dishes... "Babette's" was released in 1987. Although the filming time of "Feast" was earlier, it creatively integrated food, religion and art into one. A person, regardless of region, regardless of religion.
1. Religion and Abstinence
The film is full of religious overtones. In the 1870s, a pair of sisters, Martina and Philippa, lived in a remote small village in northern Denmark. Under the guidance of their pastor's father, they believed in Lutheranism and devoted themselves to the practice of Taoism. When two gentlemen from France fell in love with them one after another, they chose to refuse love and the opportunity to leave the remote place where they lived. Worldly love and marriage are of no value to them, like a bubble. Just as Philippa sang "I am afraid of my own joy," after the death of their father, the two sisters continued to live a life of evangelism and ministry, in-depth simplicity, and poor food.
The film carries a lot of religious images. The names of the sisters are to commemorate the two elders of Lutheran. coincidentally. There are twelve people participating in the feast in the film, which is naturally reminiscent of the twelve disciples in the Last Supper. When the sisters' father died, there were fewer and fewer followers. Complaints and dissatisfaction among people gradually spread in this barren small village, and the simple life of abstinence cannot make these complaints lessen. The film truly shows Northern Europe in the second half of the 19th century, where religious power still has a place, but it is gradually weakening.
The food and the senses
The arrival of a French feast knocked on the door of the believers' sensory experience that had been dusty for a long time. The arrival of Barbet, who had escaped refuge in France, broke the quiet days of the small village. The sisters took in the despondent Babette. Babette was lucky enough to win 10,000 francs in a huge French lottery. She was grateful for the kindness of the sisters and determined to cook a sumptuous French meal for them and the townspeople on the centenary birthday of the old priest. The two sisters practiced contrary to the principles of spiritual practice. The sisters watched with apprehension as Babette brought in a truckload of ingredients. But they couldn't bear to reject Babette's kindness, so they agreed with the townspeople in advance that they would never talk about food-related topics during the meal. But when Babette brought French dishes to the crowd, everyone's attitudes were subtly changing.
The film begins with the preparation of ingredients, and shows in great detail how a French meal is made and the ceremonial dining process. A total of eight courses, including starter, main course, salad, cake, fruit and coffee, accompanied by different tastes of wine, it is not an exaggeration to think of it as an entry-level textbook for understanding French cuisine. Exquisite and intricate tableware, uniquely cooked dishes, and fine wines throughout, feel the ultimate enjoyment of touch and taste in the intertwining of gongchao.
Good food is something with a soul. Whether they are Protestants who practice asceticism or Catholics who pay attention to the physical experience, they have resolved conflicts and disputes at this moment, and felt the beauty brought by food and meal rituals. Babette's feast, like God's messenger in the world, blesses people.
3. Art and warmth
Love comes regardless of class, and there is no distinction in the face of food. Babette infuses her own emotions and creativity into French cuisine. She is not only a chef, but also an artist. At first people didn't understand Babette's food, but she didn't care, just as the original intention of the artist's creation did not need the public to understand. During the meal, Babette tasted the wine calmly, and after the crowd dispersed, she sat alone in the corner. When everyone is immersed in food, she has always kept a certain distance from her own food creations. The art of this gastronomy brings a sense of well-being and true peace and harmony to the people in the village.
At this moment, people let go of their mutual complaints and doubts, and the ascetic people felt the grace of God in the world, and even held hands and sang praises around the well. The warmth between people breaks religious differences. There is no anger, no hatred, and no sharp judgments in this film. It just cares and loves all people with tenderness, whether it is ascetic people or those who enjoy the beauty of the senses. people. What is this video talking about? Is it food, religion, art or love? The power of a classic is to integrate many elements into one, bringing different levels of moving.
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