Since the technological revolution, a new form of art has burst its way into the spotlight for critique and criticism. The film industry, though many view it as only for entertainment purposes, offers a unique opportunity that neither paintings, music or literature can offer-the ability to incorporate visual, audio, and mental provocation into an artistic statement. Though film differs from other forms of art, it also uses many of the same devices and themes to create the desired impression or to convey a specific theme. Babette's Feast, a film involving two strict religious sisters who take in a servant out of the goodness of their heart and in turn learn the value of abundance of life, exemplifies the concept. The creators of Babette's Feast employ a specific structure, viewpoint, characters, and backdrop in order to create a theme of holy sacrifice and artistic expression.

Structure, referring to the way the story is presented, helps the build the theme by revealing the parts of the story that support the theme of the work without giving the plot away or in a sense creating suspense. Babette's Feast begins in the middle of the story by presenting the elderly sisters and their housekeeper, and then reverts to circumstances behind the sisters' current position and proceeds in normal chronological fashion. The story proceeds from the time of the youthful sisters and their beaus to the spinsterly charitable existence that is invaded by the housekeeper. As the title suggests, the most significant point in the story occurs near the end with Babette's arrival and effect on the small town, which reaches a climatic point at the feast. In accordance, the beginning of the film gives the background for the story to take place so that the viewer will appreciate the significance of Babette and her artistic endeavor. The film is presented in a straightforward manner with minimal special effects or techniques except at a few key moments in the film. The only use of cross cutting appears when the sisters read the letter that accompanied the mysterious stranger to their house. The scenes cross between the reading of the letter and the writing of the letter, which promotes the audience to view the composition of the letter as valid and vivid text written by a forgotten old friend. The simple structure of the film helps suggest the simple life of the town and the only complications are from those on the outside as seen with the letter.

Similarly, the story is also told from a simplistic point of view. A narrator begins with third person focusing on the sisters' lives. For example, the scenes are shot from an outside position and at normal level while focusing on the town and the sisters. The only use of unusual viewpoint occurs when the "disciples" are around the table bickering; the camera switches back and forth from the two opponents as if the camera were the other partner in the argument. The unusual use draws the audience in as a part of the feuds which signifies everyone's participation in the battle of brother against brother. Most of the film carries on in such a manner never giving, for example, Babette's view. However by limiting the audience's point of view, Babette remains much of a mystery to the audience as she does with the sisters. The film does sway from the focus on the sisters when addressing their suitors. Narration includes background on each of the sister's beaus and also reveals their thoughts and feelings concerning the circumstances with the sisters. The elaboration of the suitors assists in explaining the values, culture, and character of the sisters as well as the town in which they live.

Each character unfolds in a unique way and thus supports their purpose in the film. First, the sisters are addressed by the narrator who gives a brief history of the girls. Their character is described as nothing short of saintly: quiet, charitable, well manner, disciplined, and not concerned with the ways of the world in which they live much like their names suggest. Though each of the girls has an opportunity to marry, neither one does most likely due to the influence of their father and his belief that marriage and earthly love was not worthy of time. The relationship between the girls and their admirers is ironically doomed from the onset because the opposite nature of their characters which is the vary reason for the suitors attraction. For instance, the suitors are portrayed as wild men of the world, unhappy about their place in life, lost and in search for something, which is seemingly found in the two sisters. The men are developed solely through the narrator who gives a brief overview of their character and history. Though the girls are major characters in the story their individual personalities are not developed. Furthermore, they are presented with the same qualities and mannerisms almost to the point that they are one person. This idea is further enhanced in the way in which the sister are always shown together, finishing each other's sentences, and simultaneously making decisions as if they were two parts of the same whole. Babette, on the other hand, develops her character and personality through her interactions with the towns-folk. For example, as she barters with the fisherman one immediately notes her cunningness, clarity of thought, and dominance of the situation. Since Babette's character arises from episodes and interactions with others, the audience must defer for themselves the nature of her character, which leaves her as a mysterious and ambiguous character unlike the others who are clearly defined. The difference in development of the characters constitutes the distinct sig nificance that each one represents in the theme.

Themes can also be foreshadowed through the backdrop, or motifs used throughout the film. Reoccurring symbols, the use of color, and the soundtrack represent such motifs. In Babette's Feast, the opening scene is used to make a subtle hint to the theme with a shot of the ocean. The father then refers to the ocean as God's infinite ways, which stretch beyond the horizon of human understanding and extend past mortal strength. Scenes involving the ocean reoccur throughout the film mainly when the character or circumstance requires the mighty ocean of God's ways. For example, Papin is shown reflecting over the ocean as he revels in discord over his life, and interestingly that is when he hears the sing from the church, which draws him to the village. The music itself is symbolic in that the only melodies in the come from the hymns that the villagers sing which are continually repeated until Papin teaches Phillipa opera. These new and worldly tunes are quickly given up though because of the secularness that they represent. Often the villagers repeat a specific hymn with the lines "Jerusalem, my heart's true home" signifying that they hide their hearts in their religion. Another theme dealing with the simplicity of the village life is shown through the monochromatic motif of the scenes. The town and its people are shown in black, white, gray, and brown colors which suggests a dull and lifeless existence for them. In fact, the only brightly colored scenes occur in relation to the food during Babette's feast, which imply that Babette's art portrays the color of life. Many scenes are devoted to displaying the food and recording its preparation. Many motifs run throughout the film in order to help convey the many facets of the theme.

Babette's Feast addresses many issues however the main theme supported throughout the film comments on the sacrificial life of Christians and the often-misunderstood purpose about the beauty of life. The town more significantly represented by the sisters who exemplify the epitome of sacrifice and religious discipline, sways from any outside or secular influence. Babette endeavors to touch the closed lives of the people by providing a truly magnificent meal, which the "disciples" view as indulgent and evil, until they come to realize the joy, and fellowship that has come from the meal. Ironically, Babette sacrifices her winnings in order to create this understanding of beauty for the sisters who in the end realize that the sacrifice of Babette was to exemplify the beauty and vitality of God's created world. Themes as former explained are conveyed through the structure, viewpoint, characters, and backdrop that the [creators chose] which blends into an artwork that touches the senses.

LaPonna Irvine