Gabriel Axel

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Gabriel Axel (actually Axel Gabriel Erik Mørch ; born April 18, 1918 in Aarhus , Denmark , † February 9, 2014 in Copenhagen ) was a Danish film director , screenwriter and film actor .

Life

He grew up in Paris and returned to Denmark at the age of 18 to work as an actor at the Danish theater in Aarhus. When he returned to Paris, he took part in Louis Jouvet's plays. He went to Denmark again to direct films and plays there himself. At first he mainly worked for television and theater, but made his feature film debut with Today and Every Day in 1955. His third feature film, Goldene Berge , was shown in the competition at the Berlinale 1958. His comedy Familien Gyldenkål (1975) with Axel Strøbye was continued a year later in Familien Gyldenkål sprænger banken .

While Axel was already considered one of the most important directors in Denmark at the end of the 1950s, he did not make his international breakthrough until 1987, after he had already made over 40 films. Babette's Fest , a film adaptation of a novel by Karen Blixen , won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film . The film is about a French cook (played by Stéphane Audran ) who prepares a banquet for the residents of a Danish fishing village.

In addition to directors such as Claude Lelouch and David Lynch , he took part in the Lumière et Compagnie project in 1996 .

Praise in a papal instructional letter

Pope Francis quoted a scene from Gabriel Axel's film Babette's Feast in § 129 in his text Amoris laetitia of March 19, 2016 :

The joy of this contemplative love must be cultivated. Since we are created to love, we know that there is no greater joy than that of a good shared: "Do not fail you the happiness of the day [...] Give a present to your brother and treat yourself too" (Sir 14:14 a .16a). The most intense joys in life arise when one can make others happy, in anticipation of heaven. Remember the successful scene in the film “Babette's Feast”, where the generous cook receives a thankful hug and praise: “How will you delight the angels!” The joy of giving and seeing other pleasure is sweet and invigorating as they enjoy.

Filmography (selection)

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Karin Mørch: Gabriels gæstebud ( Danish ). Gyldendal A / S, 2008, ISBN 978-87-02-06775-0 , pp. 19-.
  2. ↑ Apostolic Letter Amoris Laetitia (German translation)

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Axel, Gabriel
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Mørch, Gabriel Axel (real name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Danish film director, screenwriter and film actor
DATE OF BIRTH April 18, 1918
PLACE OF BIRTH Aarhus , Denmark
DATE OF DEATH February 9, 2014
Place of death Copenhagen