Babette's Feast (1987) DVD | Criterion Collection

Winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Gabriel Axel’s Babette’s Feast is a moving celebration of art, grace, and the transformative power of food. Set in late 19th-century Denmark, the story follows a French housekeeper with a mysterious past who brings a quiet revolution to a devout, isolated community through a single, exquisite meal. Adapted from Isak Dinesen’s tale, this beautifully crafted film blends sensual pleasure with spiritual transcendence in a way that lingers long after the credits roll. Babette’s Feast is a rare cinematic treasure, as delightful as the feast at its center.

Key Features

• New 2K digital film restoration, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition
• New interviews with director Gabriel Axel and actor Stéphane Audran
• Karen Blixen—Storyteller, a 1995 documentary about the author of the film’s source story, who wrote under the pen name Isak Dinesen
• New visual essay by filmmaker Michael Almereyda
• New interview with sociologist Priscilla Parkhurst Ferguson about the significance of cuisine in French culture
• Trailer
• New English subtitle translation
• PLUS: An essay by film scholar Mark Le Fanu and Dinesen’s 1950 story in the Blu-ray edition

Elegantly told and visually captivating, Babette’s Feast is a remarkable film about the intersection of art, food, and faith. This special edition brings Axel’s masterpiece to life with a pristine restoration and a wealth of insightful extras that delve into the rich themes of the film.