Gabriel Axel facts for kids

Gabriel Axel (born Axel Gabriel Erik Mørch) was a famous Danish film director, actor, writer, and producer. He was born on April 18, 1918, and passed away on February 9, 2014. He is most remembered for writing and directing the movie Babette's Feast in 1987.

Who Was Gabriel Axel?

Early Life and Training

Gabriel Axel was born in Aarhus, Denmark, on April 18, 1918. He spent much of his childhood in Paris, France. His family was wealthy, as his father was a successful manufacturer.

When he was 17, in 1935, his family faced financial difficulties. He then moved back to Denmark. There, he trained to become a cabinet maker.

In 1942, Axel was accepted into the acting school at the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen. After finishing his studies in 1945, he went back to France. He spent five years acting on stage in Paris. He even worked at the famous Théâtre de l'Athénée.

Becoming a Director

Axel returned to Denmark in 1950. He quickly became known as a talented stage director. In the early 1950s, he directed many plays.

He also started directing for television in 1951. Between 1951 and 1968, he directed about 48 TV dramas.

From 1955, Axel worked as a director at Nordisk Film. His first feature film was Nothing But Trouble (1955). This social drama received a lot of praise. He became even more well-known with the TV film A Woman Not Wanted in 1957.

He then directed several comedies. In 1967, he made a big historical film called The Red Mantle. This movie was chosen to compete at the Cannes Film Festival. It also won a special technical award there.

His Most Famous Film: Babette's Feast

In 1977, after directing about 16 feature films, Axel moved back to France. He directed several large TV projects there. One of his biggest projects was a five-episode historical series in 1985.

In 1987, Axel returned to Denmark. He directed a film that he had dreamed of making for over 15 years. This film was Babette's Feast, based on a story by Karen Blixen. Many people consider this movie to be his best work.

Babette's Feast was shown at the Cannes Film Festival. It later won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. This was a huge honor for Axel and Danish cinema.

Later Works and Awards

After Babette's Feast, Axel directed a few more films. These included the youth drama Christian (1989) and the historical drama Prince of Jutland (1994). Prince of Jutland was based on the legend of Prince Amleth. It starred famous actors like Helen Mirren and Christian Bale. His last film was Leïla (2001), a love story set in Morocco. These films did not become as famous internationally.

Besides directing, Axel also acted in many Danish films. He often played fun supporting roles in popular comedies during the 1950s and 60s.

Gabriel Axel received many honors during his life. In 1995, he became a Knight of the French National Order of Merit. In 2000, he was made a Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. In 2003, he became an Officer of the Legion of Honour. Also in 2003, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Copenhagen International Film Festival. In 2012, he received the Rungstedlund Award.

Gabriel Axel passed away peacefully on February 9, 2014, at the age of 95.

Films He Directed

See also

In Spanish: Gabriel Axel para niños