Gabriel Axel's 'Babette's Feast' (1987)

Gabriel Axel's 'Babette's Feast' (1987)

From Her Head in Films by Caitlin

April 7, 2026 · 1h 19m · Episode 150

About this episode

Caitlin discusses Gabriel Axel's film 'Babette's Feast' and its themes of art, generosity, and community.

In this episode, I talk about Gabriel Axel's 1987 film, "Babette's Feast." The film follows Martine and Filippa—two sisters devoted to a small religious community in Denmark—and Babette, a French refugee and former chef who comes to live with them. When Babette prepares a feast to honor the centenary of their father’s birth, the meal becomes an act of artistic and emotional offering. I talk about what it means to offer something from the heart, how the film portrays art as a form of generosity, and how the experience of the meal brings the community back to life and to each other.

People in this episode

Host: Caitlin

Topics covered

  • film analysis
  • artistic expression
  • community
  • generosity
  • cultural reflection

Keywords

  • Babette's Feast
  • Gabriel Axel
  • film
  • art
  • community
  • generosity
  • Denmark

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Babette's Feast

Places: Denmark

More episodes of Her Head in Films

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Her Head in Films podcast page.