Review by Gary Tooze

Production:

Disc:

Video:

Audio:

DTS-HD Master Audio Danish 2011 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2011 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)

• Interview with Stephane Audren (6:52)

• BFI Trailer (1:32)

• Theatrical Trailer (3:24)

• New interviews with director Gabriel Axel (8:41) and actor Stéphane Audran (24:21)
• Karen Blixen—Storyteller, a 1995 documentary about the author of the film’s source story, who wrote under the pen name Isak Dinesen (1:30:07)
• New visual essay by filmmaker Michael Almereyda (26:00)
• New interview with sociologist Priscilla Parkhurst Ferguson about the significance of cuisine in French culture (17:00)
• Trailer (1:28)
• New English subtitle translation
• PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film scholar Mark Le Fanu and Dinesen’s 1950 story

Bitrate:

Description: Adapted from a story by Out of Africa author Isak Dinesen, it tells the story of a 19th Century religious community on Denmark s remote and windswept coast. Into this austere environment comes Babette, a mysterious refugee from France s civil war.

When she mounts a French gourmet feast to mark the community s anniversary, the local elders are scandalized. Just who is the strangely talented Babette, who has terrified this pious town with the prospect of losing their souls for enjoying too much earthly pleasure?

Winner of the 1988 Oscar for best Foreign Language Film.

1) Artificial Eye - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

The Film:

Excerpt from Edinburgh Film Society located HERE

Image :    NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

Babette's Feast gets an authentically grainy transfer to Blu-ray from Artificial Eye.  It sneaks into dual-layered territory and has a strong bitrate for the 1 3/4 hour feature. The period piece has many grays and blacks in the art direction. The 1080P supports solid contrast exhibiting decent black levels and film-like richness in the slightly bastardized 1.78:1 frame.  It's very clean showcasing some hi-def detail and there are really no flaws with the rendering. The textures may be heavy for some tastes and there is some noise to content with. This Blu-ray probably looks close to the theatrical version of the film Babette's Feast. Those familiar with the film should appreciate the HD.

Significant differences between the Criterion and the Artificial Eye Blu-rays. The Criterion is in 1.66:1 aspect ratio and shows more information in the frame (notably at the bottom.) Where the AE can look greenish, the Criterion might be more blue. The Criterion skin tones can be much warmer and overall the image is darker. The bitrate is max'ed out on both and while I think they both look very film-like in 1080P, and not knowing which is more theatrically correct, I'd lean to the Criterion simply because of the AR. Comparing the captures, I suppose you can decide for yourself which you prefer. 

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

1) Artificial Eye - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Artificial Eye - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Artificial Eye - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Artificial Eye - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Artificial Eye - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Artificial Eye - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Artificial Eye - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Artificial Eye - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Artificial Eye - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Artificial Eye - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Artificial Eye - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Artificial Eye - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Artificial Eye - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

Audio is in the form of a linear PCM 2.0 channel track at 1536 kbps in the original Danish. The score by Per Nørgård sounds very good via the lossless. The film is devoid of any strong aggressive sound and even the dialogue is quite passive but  clear and supported with optional English subtitles. My Momitsu has identified it as being a region 'B'-locked.

Criterion's audio is transferred via a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track at 2011 kbps in the original Danish language. I wouldn't say the difference between this and the AE audio was obvious but I did suspect the linear had a more pronounced high-end while the Criterion exported a stronger bass response. The Criterion has optional English subtitles with an occasional, slight difference from the AE in terms of the translation. It is coded region 'A'.

Extras :

 

 

Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
I've seen Babette's Feast three times and always have the same reaction (besides being very hungry!). This is a comfortable, warm affirmation of life focusing the positive aspects in your short existence on this earth. The Artificial Eye Blu-ray provides a textured a/v presentation worthy of showing to friends in my Home Theatre. It is another of those films I am extremely happy to have in the richness of 1080P. Recommended!

Babette's Feast remains a rewarding, and unique, film experience and it's nice to have the option of releases. Criterion score significant points with the AR and bountiful extras - and that is the choice we recommend!  

Gary Tooze

March 28th, 2012

June 25th, 2013