My wife and I watch the wonderful Oscar Winning Danish film Babette's Feast (1987) every Thanksgiving. It's not technically a holiday film, but there's enough delicious food, feasting and gathering of friends to pass as one.
This year my wife made a delicious Turkey for us and my favorite sausage stuffing. We shared a bottle of Pino Noir and threw on Babette's Feast. Every time I watch the film, a particular scene stands out to me, and it happens to be one of my all-time favorite speeches in any film. The General's speech that he gives during the epic dinner. I've typed it our below.
MERCY IS INFINITE
"Righteousness and bliss shall kiss one another. Man, in his weakness and shortsightedness, believes he must make choices in this life. He trembles at the risks he takes. We do know fear.
But no. Our choice is of no importance. There comes a time when your eyes are opened. And we come to realize that mercy is infinite. We need only await it with confidence, and receive it with gratitude. Mercy imposes no conditions. And, lo! Everything we have chosen has been granted to us. And everything we rejected has also been granted. Yes, we even get back what we rejected.
For mercy and truth are met together. And righteousness and bliss shall kiss one another."
Mercy and truth have met together.¹
¹ Psalm 85:10
I absolutely love the the way the speech works in the dichotomy between life's struggles and the need for continued mercy. As I reflect on 2021, I have a lot to be thankful for, especially the time I've spent with my wife and for God's continued mercy in my life as I try to become the best me that I can be.
Here are some food photos from Thanksgiving 2021.
Babette's Feast Synopsis:
Beautiful but pious sisters Martine (Birgitte Federspiel) and Philippa (Bodil Kjer) grow to spinsterhood under the wrathful eye of their strict pastor father on the forbidding and desolate coast of Jutland, until one day, Philippa's former suitor sends a Parisian refugee named Babette (Stéphane Audran) to serve as the family cook. Babette's lavish celebratory banquet tempts the family's dwindling congregation, who abjure such fleshly pleasures as fine foods and wines.
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