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It's a technique to soften the image. Some actresses even had their own nettings they kept with them for close ups. It's sometimes more visible with digital techniques like many things that were hidden with prints that were several generations from the negative, like wires for effects etc.

It can be used for a few other effects too. If I remember right everything except the epilogue to Berlin Alexanderplatz is shot that way to get an other view of the effect.

It may well be the case that the transition to a digital medium has created an unfortunate moiré-style effect as a by-product, but I have to say that it didn't really bother me. I can't stress enough that this is absolutely nothing like what happened with Marnie!

Ok, thanks for the explanation guys. Just finished watching it now. Guess i got a bit derailed by what i saw, thankfully the "fishnet" pattern didn't show up for the remainder of the movie, so no big deal. At first i got a bit worried that it was my equipment that failed me. Apart from that it was a beautiful transfer of a beautiful movie. Made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Just caught this last night, and absolutely adored the film.

I also caught the diamond like pattern in two scenes, visible only in the sky to me, I initially thought it was a gradient filter put over the lens to keep the sky from blowing out (since I've used those in still photography), but gauze over the lens makes sense too. I imagine they could have avoided the problem entirely by harvesting a positive element instead of the negative, as the grain of even a first generation IP should probably cause the issue to vanish.

Michael Almeyreyda's visual essay tone poem on the film is absolutely wonderful, I liked the way he wove together the whole story of the Dineson, Axel, Welles and the film itself, it felt very organic and not at all like a typical 'history of' special feature.

MichaelB wrote:It may well be the case that the transition to a digital medium has created an unfortunate moiré-style effect as a by-product, but I have to say that it didn't really bother me. I can't stress enough that this is absolutely nothing like what happened with Marnie!

Usefully, this discussion has enabled me to identify the same issue behind a couple of similar shots in Arrow's Frivolous Lola, which I'm just QCing. Although I suspect I'll be the only viewer looking at the faint veil pattern in the background rather than the heroine's naked buttocks in the foreground, so it's less of an issue than it was with Babette's Feast!

MichaelB wrote:

MichaelB wrote:It may well be the case that the transition to a digital medium has created an unfortunate moiré-style effect as a by-product, but I have to say that it didn't really bother me. I can't stress enough that this is absolutely nothing like what happened with Marnie!

Usefully, this discussion has enabled me to identify the same issue behind a couple of similar shots in Arrow's Frivolous Lola, which I'm just QCing. Although I suspect I'll be the only viewer looking at the faint veil pattern in the background rather than the heroine's naked buttocks in the foreground, so it's less of an issue than it was with Babette's Feast!

Does that harvest also originate from the negative? I still think that the grain structure of an IP would hide the pattern, it's not a flaw anyone but the negative cutter would have ever seen (and only then if they had a fabulously powerful loupe!).

movielocke wrote:Michael Almeyreyda's visual essay tone poem on the film is absolutely wonderful, I liked the way he wove together the whole story of the Dineson, Axel, Welles and the film itself, it felt very organic and not at all like a typical 'history of' special feature.

Agreed. I liked it so much it prompted me to investigate his movies. Those who liked his essay might like his documentary William Eggleston in the Real World.

I saw Babette's Feast in the theatres when I was much younger, and loved it for its joie de vivre. Watching it again many years later, it is the intimations of mortality that especially resonate.

Actually I've seen William Eggleston in the real world and really enjoyed it, but I'd forgotten who directed it.

Separate DVD and blu-ray editions are up for pre-order at Amazon with November 4 release date.

If you're suggesting that this was once a dual-format package that is now being broken up, that's not the case.

My mistake. I guess it's just a repackage.

Has anyone seen the story of this film being a representation of different facets of a personality. Discipline vs. Artistic expression, or perhaps ambition and achievement as a result of suppression of romantic intentions. I had this impression after seeing the movie, but then after watching the supplement on Karen Blixen and her near forced chastity I wondered if the sisters' chastity was an expression of this facet of her life.

Apparently this is fairly old news, but I heard recent confirmation that this is still happening: Guy Branum is currently writing a remake of this for Alexander Payne. Whatever happens, or doesn't, we'll see eventually.

I watched this again. What a pitch perfect film. Just beautiful and timeless. And of course I wanted a fancy meal afterwards (maybe not turtle soup though)

I've seen a bunch of recipe recreations for the film where the turtle soup is replaced by mock turtle soup (using veal or beef
as a substitute).

Go to Brennan's in New Orleans and get their delicious turtle soup. You may change your tone. (Or maybe not.)

I had a lot of turtle soup as a kid and didn't know it wasn't common until I never found it anywhere except my Ohio hometown. We just went to the Turtle Soup Man and bought it by the quart. For the variety I remember, ground dark meat turkey would probably be a decent substitute for turtle. It was kind of like a thin chili (no beans).

Matt, what does turtle soup taste like, if there is a comparison?

I don't know what I expected when I opened this thread (still never seen this film), but this wasn't the discussion I expected!

I'll just shoutout the totally ridiculously unnecessary turtle scene in Tanpopo while I'm here, I trust Babette's Feast isn't that extreme!

Matt wrote: Sat Jan 03, 2026 7:39 am For the variety I remember, ground dark meat turkey would probably be a decent substitute for turtle. It was kind of like a thin chili (no beans).

what if I wanted both in the soup?

ryannichols7 wrote: Sun Jan 04, 2026 11:21 pm I don't know what I expected when I opened this thread (still never seen this film), but this wasn't the discussion I expected!

I'll just shoutout the totally ridiculously unnecessary turtle scene in Tanpopo while I'm here, I trust Babette's Feast isn't that extreme!

No, it's not. It's very unassuming. Ryan, I would recommend seeing the film. I think you would at least like it

For me it's a very special film, not the least of which is seeing a great performance from Stephane Aubran, three actors from
Dreyer's Ordet, and appearances from two Bergman regulars, Jarl Kulle and Bibi Andersson.