Kitchen Stories

The 1950s. Stockholm's great Dr. Ljungberg – who is experimenting with how to eliminate the average Scandinavian housewife's unnecessary walking miles between stove, table and cupboard – initiates a “positivisitic” study. Researchers in a fleet of identical trailers invade households just over the Norwegian border to minutely record every kitchen movement their host subjects make. Fastidious Folke Nilsson (who counts Linneaus a distant relation) ascends a tall chair to scrutinize Isak, a craggy farmer who volunteered for the survey due to a misunderstanding. Isak tries to undermine the stranger's hovering presence, secretly cooking and eating elsewhere. Slowly, though, a friendship warms between the odd couple – even though fraternization between hosts and observers is strictly forbidden. Those who remember the deadpan humor of “Eggs” (20th CIFF, 1996) and “Water Easy Reach” (23rd CIFF, 1999) will welcome another serving of Bent Hammer's droll absurdity. (In Swedish and Norwegian with English subtitles)