18/05/2003 - Bent Hamer's humorous tale of family life in Scandinavia is based on a study of Swedish housewives who, in a year, cover the equivalent distance that separates Sweden from the Congo

Salmer fra kjøkkenet ("Kitchen Stories") by Bent Hamer, presented in Directors Fortnight, is based on a highly original premise: a 1950s study into Swedish housewives found that during a typical year, the average Swedish housewife covered the same distance that separates Sweden from the Congo!
Using subtle humour, the Norwegian director recreates the order and minimalist interior design typical of most post-war Scandinavian homes, where the days run to clockwork precision, and his portrayal of the ways in which human relationships develop in these little wooden houses surrounded by a timeless snow-filled country landscape is delicate and touching.
This is Bent Hamer’s second time in Cannes: his first film, Eggs, was selected for the 1995 edition.
Made with a budget of DKR 18.6m (Euros2.368m), DKR 9.8 from the Norsk Film & TV Fund, and is the result of a major co-production that brought together the Svedish Film Institute, Swedish broadcaster AB Television and Norway’s BulBul Film As. The film was distributed domestically by SF Norge.

(Translated from Italian)