Instructor:  Barbara Burns

Babette’s Feast, is a rare film for all times, with screenplay and direction by Gabriel Axel and composed by Isak Dinesen (a.k.a. Karen Blixen) of Out of Africa fame. The journey begins on the rugged coast of Denmark, where Martina and Phillippa are the young, beautiful daughters of a Lutheran pastor who has become the founder of an ecclesiastic church. The sect is taught to follow austerity and asceticism, with the next life considered more important than their present living. Following the death of their father, the daughters continue with his teachings and care for those less fortunate. As with other abstemious religious groups, their numbers dwindle and the congregation shrinks into an aging and isolated group. Babette, a chef and refugee from the French civil war arrives at the sisters’ door and her presence brings a sea change to the village. She encourages the sisters to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of the old pastor’s birth with a sumptuous meal. The surprising transformation of the ingredients is followed by the utter spiritual transformation of all those partaking in the feast. This film cannot help but change its’ viewers spirits, as well.

About the Instructor
Barbara Burns, R.N., L.C.S.W. is a Registered Nurse, and received Masters in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago.  In addition to being a Clinical Social Worker, Barbara has been teaching Tai Chi for over 35 years.   She is very interested in women’s spirituality and completed the certificate program at the Jung Institute in 1989.  She resides in Evanston and is a member of the Board of Trustees at the Jung Center.