Julie and Julia, Babette’s Feast

I had the privilege of seeing Julie and Julia the night it opened here in the States. I enjoyed it,  I was hoping to see more from the book make it to the screen that did not.  There’s a lot to cover in 2 hours–I guess involving all the people in the book would be far too many introductions to make, and the story centers on the two heroines. The language in the movie is much cleaner than the book, unless they redid the book to better match the movie. [As far as I know, they did not.]  I was glad they didn’t omit 9/11 references in depicting Powell’s job.

Anyway, as part of this new series on the Filmrelics blog, I searched my film memories for a wonderful older picture with a food theme. And that film would be Babette’s Feast. Directed by Gabriel Axel, released in 1988, Babette’s Feast is a Danish film with subtitles available in English, French and Spanish. The teaser info the premise centers on Babette’s arrival. But as I recall, the story starts at the home of two sisters, daughters of a puritan minister, who live modest lives together. One is very beautiful, the other a very talented singer.  Both women  have lived lives of self-denial as good Christians they feel they are expected to be–suitors and an opera company called, and the sisters declined.

Babette comes from revolution-weary France, seeking a more peaceful existence.  Again, being good Christians, the sisters oblige her. At some point, Babette wins the lottery and it is decided she  will return to France; her last night at the sister’s home, she cooks a lavish French dinner, far more elegant than the simple fish platters the sisters eat every day of their lives. The sisters aren’t sure they approve of this extravagance, but Babette really wants to thank them for taking her in in her time of need.

I won’t share anymore because I don’t want to spoil the whole story, but you see there’s a intriguing predicament there.  The story for Babette’s Feast came from the imagination of none other than Isak Denisen, who gave us  Out of Africa.

Other movies that deal with food and human conflict that I’ve enjoyed  are Like Water for Chocolate, The Joy Luck Club, Woman on Top, Chocolat, and Pixar’s Ratatouille. I know there are many more out there, but I haven’t seen them just yet.

For more information on any movie mentioned in this post, see the following links:

Julie & Julia http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1135503/

Babette’s Feast http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092603/

The Joy Luck Club http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107282/

Chocolat http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0241303/

Woman on Top http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0206420/

Like Water for Chocolate http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103994/

Ratatouille http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382932/

I Love You, Beth Cooper and Say Anything

Recently, in the United States a teen romantic adventure film called “I Love You, Beth Cooper” was released, starring classic all-american beauty Hayden Panettiere, and many actors I am not that familiar with. The film appears to take Coen Bros.-style wacky scenarios and pair them with “clash of the high school social classes”, a love theme that’s a little Austen-Wharton in its origins.  First, boy learns his crush isn’t a goddess, she’s human, then they both learn they aren’t that different, though they mingle in different circles. Could this happen at a real high school among graduating seniors? Possibly, once you’re graduated, you don’t necessarily have to try to make it work among the old crowds. But eventually, I think the two would find it hard not to go back to their old lives because it was comfortable and predictable, or because after graduation a person has a whole new life to try to figure out.

But I digress. My point in blogging is, I couldn’t help but recall “Say Anything” from 1989 when I saw the trailer for this new film. “Say Anything” involves a girl valedictorian from an upper middle class home, Diane Court (played by Ione Skye), and a boy from the fringes of her class, Lloyd Dobler (played by John Cusack).  Diane appears to have it all, and an even more promising future ahead of her. Lloyd, who meets her after graduation at a class party, seems like just the sort of guy to get in the way of that promising future, especially in the eyes of Diane’s dad, James Court (played by John Mahoney).  But not everything is as it seems, whether you’re talking about Diane’s image, or Lloyd’s for that matter.

The story has a happy ending, but it does involve Diane having a rude awakening and having to grow up from the idyllic, almost “modern princess” life she’d known up until her graduation.

I highly recommend this movie, and I’d like to think it wasn’t a story that you’d have to be a 80s kid to understand; and it’s not exactly like John Hughes Brat Pack work from earlier in the decade, though the characters are forced to confront reality, and learn to love it or just accept it.

For more information on both these pictures, see the websites that follow, and be all means, check out the films themselves.

“Say Anything” http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098258/

“I Love You, Beth Cooper”  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1032815/

TRIVIA:  “In Your Eyes” was the love song Lloyd plays on his boombox for Diane, standing outside her window, wearing his trademark raincoat. This image has been imitated in all sorts of movies, tv shows, etc. The song itself is the work of Peter Gabriel, and was allegedly written about Rosanna Arquette.

Ione Skye is the daughter of 1960s Scottish musician Donovan Leitch. His greatest hits include  “Sunshine Superman”, “Mellow Yellow”,  and “Hurdy Gurdy Man”. One of his songs used in a couple US commercials lately is the love song “Catch the Wind”.  Wind energy, catch the wind, wow–clever, marketing guys! It is actually a lovely song, though.