17/12/2003 - Two quality European films are up against the 3rd episode of Lord of the Rings. French cinemas will be showing A Heart Elsewhere & Kitchen Stories from today

There’s a strong set of releases on French screens today, with the distribution of two European productions, which will be trying to capture their audiences in spite of the tough competition from the third episode of Lord of the Rings, being released in 900 prints. There will be 58 and 60 prints respectively for A Heart Elsewhere by the Italian director Pupi Avati and Kitchen stories by the Norwegian Bent Hamer. These two films made in a comic key could do well if they manage to create a positive reaction passing by word of mouth.

The feature film by Pupi Avati, the famous director and president of Cinecittà Holding, was presented in the official competition at this year’s Cannes Film festival. It has divided French critics, seen as “a small surprise” by the French weekly Télérama, whose opinions are often taken into serious consideration by its readers. But the film has also had harsher reviews in the French press. In spite of this, the distributor Océan Films is stressing the charm of the protagonist Vanessa Incontrada in its promotion of the A Heart Elsewhere (produced by Duea Film). Océan Films has recently had many successful releases, like The Best of Youth [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and Good Bye Lenin! [+see also:
trailer
interview: Wolfgang Becker
film profile].

The other European release is the third feature film by Bent Hamer, which was another work featured during Cannes 2003. Kitchen stories has won a number of awards, including Best Norwegian Film of the Year, and it is Norway’s entry for the 2004 Oscar for Best Foreign Film. It is being distributed in France by Les Films du Losange and critics have been united in their positive response to the production, also thanks to its humour and the subtle performances of the two main characters. Kitchen stories is produced by the director’s own production company, (BulBul Film) and by the Swedish firm Bob Film. It looks like being able to capture the art house film audience, even if it is under the shadow of the blockbuster The Lord of the Rings – The return of the King looming over the whole cinemtagraphic horizon this week, leaving very little space left for the competition.

(Translated from French)