The Coolidge Corner Theatre

Before the film, Professor Guy Crosby, a science expert for Cook's Illustrated and America's Test Kitchen, will discuss the titular feast.

Food is a metaphor for love in Danish director Gabriel Axel’s Oscar-winning film Babette’s Feast, a delectable treasure that unfolds with quiet beauty and grace. Set in a remote Danish fishing village in the latter part of the 19th century, Babette’s Feast tells of two beautiful sisters who give up their chance for romance and worldly success in order to care for their father, a strict pastor who preaches salvation through self-denial. After his death, they carry on his work, tending to his aging and increasingly quarrelsome flock with saintly devotion.

When Babette (Stéphane Audran), a French political refugee, appears on their doorstep seeking shelter, they engage her to keep house and cook their meager meals. Years later, Babette wins the lottery and asks to prepare a sumptuous French feast for the community. Everyone accepts, but the thought of such decadence makes them fear for their Christian souls, and they agree not to show any pleasure. But in one of the great sensual sequences captured on film, we see their mood change as they can’t help but be transported by Babette’s culinary artistry. Aided by the exquisite food and wine, the parishioners rediscover their bonds of love and fellowship. (1987, 102 minutes, in Danish with English subtitles).

The film’s mouthwatering scenes raise the question, how does our sense of taste work? And how does taste work in concert with our other senses to allow us to recognize flavor? Why do some foods please our taste buds, and others do not? What role does memory play in experiencing food?

Joining us before the film to explore these and other questions is food scientist Dr. Guy Crosby, science editor for Cook’s Illustrated magazine and science expert for America’s Test Kitchen, broadcast nationwide on PBS. Dr. Crosby is an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Food Science at Framingham State College and also an adjunct associate professor of nutrition at Harvard University’s School of Public Health.

Finale will be providing samples of a special dessert in honor of Babette's Feast--Baba au Rhum--before tonight's screening. They will also be giving out buy-one-get-one-free coupons for their Coolidge Corner store (1306 Beacon St.) so you can bring home your very own Baba tonight!