The Nativity Story
Director: Catherine Hardwicke.
Starring: Keisha Castle Hughes, Oscar Isaac, Shohresh Aghdashtoo, Stanley Townshend, Ciaran Hinds. Year: 2006.
Catherine Hardwicke’s movie imaginatively recreates the story of Christ’s birth and the historical circumstances as we can gather from the first three Gospels. Its Biblical accuracy and historical authenticity have been praised by critics. The plot arranges the events of the nativity narratives in their possible chronological sequence, beginning with a depiction of the historical setting of Roman brutality made worse by the local tyranny of Herod. Against this background the messianic expectations and the prophecies are foregrounded. The annunciation episode is followed by Mary’s betrothal and her visit to Elizabeth. It is here that the angelic prophecy is fulfilled when Mary is found with child and in spite of her reluctance to return home for ignominy, she is persuaded by her cousin to do so. Joseph at first is not convinced of her report of the angelic prophecy but the angel visits him in his dream and he is convinced. He takes Mary under his care. Then comes the orders to register their names and they undertake the arduous journey to Bethlehem. Parallel to this plot runs the story of the Magi. They come to Herod looking for the King. Herod is already aware of the prophecy. But when his attempt to trick the magi into reporting on the whereabouts of the Messiah fails, he orders the infamous massacre depicted in all its horror and pathos. The movie concludes with the flight into Egypt. The strength of the film comes from its presentation of the ‘human side’ of the whole story. The dire conditions of life experienced by the poor oppressed people of Judea, the inner conflicts experienced by the characters, their sorrows anxieties and joys are brought forth beautifully, with excellent settings, camera work and brilliant acting. A warm-hearted presentation of the well -known story worth watching during Christmas time.
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Babette’s Feast
Are we meant to be stern and gloomy or joyful and generous?
This famous Danish movie (1987), directed by Gabriel Axel, is an adaptation Isak Dinesan’s novel of the same name. The story centres around Martine and Philipa, two spinsters living isolated in a Danish coastal village in the 1870s. Their deceased father had been a minister whose sect is in a state of decline with the members nursing mutual dislike and hate. The minister had prevented the daughters from getting married in their youth, considering marriage as worldly vanity. Into their bleak life comes a French refugee woman, Babette Hersant, who offers to work as the servant. She had been a French Revolutionary and the chief Chef in a famous Parisian Café. The two spinsters, who had sustained themselves on dry fish and meagre soups, are a bit scandalised by the tasty dishes the new servant prepares for them, for such things are sinful temptations of the world. When the dead minister’s 100th anniversary arrives, the sisters decide to celebrate the day in the small community with a meagre meal.
With the money Babette wins in a lottery, she offers to prepare a grand dinner for the sect. With the sisters’ reluctant permission Babette throws her heart and soul into preparing a special dinner, much to the consternation of the puritanical community, who think that life is meant to be endured, not enjoyed. After all, Babette is a foreigner and a hated ‘Papist’ (derogatory Protestant reference to Catholics).
The dinner turns out to be a life-changing experience for everyone. It becomes a moment of self-awareness, of acceptance and gratitude, of forgiveness and reconciliation among the estranged members of the community. The sisters now realise that life is far more beautiful than they had imagined.
The way the director details the preparation and celebration of the dinner and the response that it elicits in the participants strongly recalls the Eucharist. The self-sacrificing Babette, who spends all her lottery money to prepare a good meal for the village, is a Christ-like figure. Her feast unites a broken community, helping people find human closeness and joy.
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