Food and Film: Babette's Feast at the Hammer

A feast on screen is hard to beat, and Gabriel Axel's Babette's Feast (1987) is the one people mean when they say that. On Saturday, Nov. 7, the Hammer Museum in Westwood shows the Academy Award-winning Danish film as part of its Food and Film series, co-presented with the UCLA Film & Television Archive. If you are sorting through things to do in Los Angeles this month, a free classic in a proper theater earns a spot.

When: Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, 7:30 PM Where: Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles Price: Free

About the film

Axel's story follows a French cook who finds refuge in a strict, quiet Danish village and eventually spends everything she has on one extraordinary dinner. The Hammer describes it as a dash of piety, a splash of romance, a hint of heartache and a touch of splendor, with generous portions of human frailty and desire. The cinematography is by Henning Kristiansen, and the cast includes Stéphane Audran, Bodil Kjer and Birgitte Federspiel. The running time is 104 minutes.

Why now

The screening marks the fifth anniversary of Lulu, the restaurant at the Hammer. Pairing a film about food with a museum that has its own kitchen makes sense, and it turns an ordinary Saturday into a proper evening out. Among the LA events this weekend, this is one of the calmer, more thoughtful picks.

Getting tickets and seats

Admission to Archive screenings at the Hammer is free. Your seat is assigned when you pick up your ticket at the box office, on a first come, first served basis, with a limit of one per visitor. The box office opens one hour before the program, so plan to arrive early rather than at 7:30 sharp. Hammer Members can choose their preferred seats and pick up a ticket for one additional guest, subject to availability, with priority ticketing until 15 minutes before the program.

Questions go to the Archive at programming@cinema.ucla.edu or 310-206-8013.

Getting there

The Billy Wilder Theater is inside the Hammer Museum on Wilshire Boulevard, at the edge of Westwood Village. Self-parking is available under the museum. The Hammer lists a $9 flat rate after 5 PM on weekdays and all day on weekends, which covers this Saturday show. Bus lines along Wilshire also stop close by, and the Westwood Village restaurants nearby make an easy place for a bite before or after.

Look for more neighborhood picks on our Westwood page and more culture listings under arts and culture.