In Like Water for Chocolate food is a magical substance, communicating Tita's message to Pedro and finding embodiment in Gertrudis. In Babette's Feast, as we discussed, it's similarly magical, reconciling the the apparently irreconcilable--body and spirit. Her meal has religious overtones, especially given the religious nature of the group and the gathering (the founder's centennial). This gives food a mystic overtone in Babette. Christian mystics often experience physical extremity that transform into spiritual ecstasy. The meal does have a Last Supper feel to it with 12 guests and Babette as its spiritual leader to further the religious associations.
However, I'd stop short of suggesting Blixen (or Axel) is promoting a specifically religious message (though she does comment on religion and its social efficacy, and does ultimately assert the spiritual value of Art). For Blixen, as for other modernists, Art is what we have instead of God, as a Hemingway character says slightly different context. Babette is a thoroughly modern artist (despite her nineteenth century setting--truly avant garde) isolated, self-perpetuating and self-validating, needing nothing besides her art and her space to create it.
However, I'd stop short of suggesting Blixen (or Axel) is promoting a specifically religious message (though she does comment on religion and its social efficacy, and does ultimately assert the spiritual value of Art). For Blixen, as for other modernists, Art is what we have instead of God, as a Hemingway character says slightly different context. Babette is a thoroughly modern artist (despite her nineteenth century setting--truly avant garde) isolated, self-perpetuating and self-validating, needing nothing besides her art and her space to create it.
I wanted to bring this up last night but couldn't find a good time to do it....the line about "righteousness and bliss will kiss one another", is it possible that this is in reference to righteousness being the religious way, and bliss being the worldly way? A sort of way of saying that you can have both? Does that even make sense?
ReplyDeleteyes it does, I understand Jon. That's a good point out!
ReplyDeleteYes, or we could translate it similarly as spirit (righteousness) and body (bliss, sensuous pleasure).
ReplyDeleteThat line would fit with the time period and the austerity of the religious influence of Martine and Flippa's father.
ReplyDeleteWorldly ways are not always a bad thing and religious things are not always a good thing but in that moment when righteousness and bliss kissed it meant to be well or good.
ReplyDeleteYes Jon I think it makes perfect sense. I wouldn't have thought to look at it that way. I agree with Blue about what he says in general, but for this movie in the characters mind wordly things are always bad and religious things are always good.
ReplyDeleteI didn't see it so much as a religious film, more as a film that showes differences in cultures and difficulties with acceptance. I do feel religion played an important role in the lives of the people on the island. But I didn't feel the film itself was trying to project a religious message to me. I would think that if it were to be mainly focused on religion, it would have shown Babette's views on religion more. I would imagine there would have been more religious conflict. That's just my humble opinion.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think this movie was so popular or famous? How do you think it moved the audience? What was the message the writer and director were trying to poetry?
ReplyDeleteVery good observation Jon. Thanks for pointing that out. I agree with you also Sarah Hudson. It centered around a religious family and group, but I didn't think it was projecting a religious message to me either.
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