When Babette (Stéphane Audran) is forced to flee counter-revolutionary violence in Paris, she finds herself seeking refuge in a religious community in remote Denmark. Two sisters, Martine (Birgitte Federspiel) and Filippa (Bodil Kjer) offer her shelter. Several years later, Babette repays this act of kindness with the ultimate gift and sign of gratitude – an extravagant meal. Based on a short story by Isak Dinesen, this moving depiction of the joys of culinary art has been called the ultimate film about food.