Video Review by Marilyn Robitaille

Last Updated 08/27/01

Email: robitai@our-town.com

CUISINE DREAMS: "BABETTE'S FEAST" and "BIG NIGHT"

Aside from an occasional burst of energy that produces a soufflé, I don't tend to invest much time or take many risks when I cook. I have an idea, however, that for the person who cooks from the soul, there's a spirituality in the cooking ritual.  I've seen it in the eyes of my friend who caresses his copper pots to a deep shine, who glories in the arts of planning the meal, chopping and dicing, and lovingly basting or browning.  For the most part, I question cooking just about anything that takes longer to prepare than it does to eat.    That's not to say that I don't appreciate the results of the gourmand's process; I could write the book on the joy of eating. Since I'll never know, or even completely understand, the affairs of the culinary heart, I'm grateful to two movies in particular for their insights: "Babette's Feast" and "Big Night." Both attempt to communicate with sensitivity and flair the mystery that occurs when life and the art of cooking are inextricably mixed.

                "Babette's Feast, " the older of the two, first appeared in 1987.   This is a European film complete with subtitles, and set in the mid-1800s.  Darkly lit and slowly paced, it tells a moving story about two daughters who have chosen to stay in a remote village nestled in the Danish countryside when they could have left to live fuller lives. They sacrifice real opportunities to devote themselves to their father, the church he pastors, his parishioners, and to God.  When fate brings Babette (Ghita Norby) to live with them, they learn about realizing dreams and experiencing life to the fullest.  Babette mythologizes their lives of sacrifice by preparing a magnificent meal on the anniversary of their father's 100^th birthday.  The opulence of the meal and Babette's French sensibility contrast sharply with the villagers' humble lifestyles.  Her efforts produce Epicurean delights, the likes of which no one present at the meal has ever known.  They'll never be the same again. 

                In "Big Night" (1996) two brothers, Primo (Tony Shalhoub) and Secondo (Stanley Tucci), emigrate from Italy to open an Italian restaurant.   As a chef, Primo's specialties of the house prove too exotic for most of the customers who want spaghetti and meatballs.  He's reduced to cooking commercial fare, and he resents it.   After struggling with finances, the brothers have a chance to balance their books by preparing a special dinner for a celebrated musician and his jazz band. They sacrifice everything, and Primo prepares an unforgettable meal in grand Italian style.  In the process, they learn about sacrifice, women and love, exploitation and disappointment, and—most importantly—about survival.

Both of these movies demand a little more than the usual fare; they can't be rushed. You have to decide to savor the experience to learn something from these characters and their cuisine dreams.  Watch on an empty stomach for the full effect, and forget the popcorn.

Both available on video; "The Big Night" also available on DVD.

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