Such a simple film. So quiet, crisp and clear. Like the Norwegian winter snow that surrounds the story.
I always appreciate when a movie, a photo, a piece of writing, or a brief encounter with a stranger strikes this particular cord within me: How much I will never know, how little of the world I will ever see, how few human’s I will meet and connect with, how many billions of quiet (and not so quiet) dramas I will never share. And what a wondrous feeling of awe this re-realization always fills me with, how enriched I feel by having recalled it. So thanks to Bent Hamer for writing and directing ‘Kitchen Stories’; for reminding me yet again of my humble space in the universe.
I so look forward to hearing from other people who have watched this movie and would like to share their own responses. And thanks once again for joining us here for another discussion !
8 comments:
I am writing to tell you that although I have never posted I have been following your film blog since it started on recommendation of a friend.
I have watched all six films so far and have enjoyed every one. Even FEED!
What I find most interesting is the wide variety on the level of plot, location, genre, and time frame. I feel as if I am travelling around the world and meeting people and exploring situations in a way I would not otherwise have the opportunity to do.
For the most part I do not get a chance to see too many films and the ones I do have always been pretty mainstream so this has been a very eye opening experience.I did not know just how much was out there that I had been missing.
Of course I still see the usual stuff with my kids and friends but this has added a whole new dimension and I love it.
I greatly enjoy reading all the comments and hope this continues for a long time to come!
WELCOME aboard 'Jeeves':)
What a great note you wrote. It makes me wonder how many others we have joining in our adventure that we never hear from!
I myself am not actually that comfortable writing(I'd much rather take photos!) and don't find it an easy endeavor. Thank goodness for folks like Breather, Cherry, Oldman and the rest of our contributors who seem to have a true talent when it comes to writing. What a pleasure it is to be able to read their contributions!
So thanks again 'Jeeves' for your kind support...Lee PAris
WOW. WHAT A LITTLE GEM OF A MOVIE
AFTER SEEING THIS I NO LONGER FEEL A NEED TO BE A"FLY ON ANYONES WALL"
NO MATTER WHAT OUR LIVES ,WHERE WE ARE FROM,HOW DISPARATE OUR LIVES, WE ALL SHARE THE SAME NEED, DESIRES AND EMOTIONS.
HOW ABOUT THE HAIR CUTTING SCENE.CUTE?
I love the slow pace of this film. I loved the silence. Kind of a "take time to smell the flowers" movie. What a difference from JSA or american movies. I'm glad I have the opportunity to enjoy both.
A common thread through JSA and this film were ther use of facial expressions. In JSA they came in the quick moments of silence and gave the characters a bit of depth. Here these expressions WERE their depth.
Such a wonderful movie, and so much happening on so many levels despite the appearance of absolute simplicity. I love the humor in the scenes with "Mr. Party," Dr. Ljungberg, the head of the project, especially his final scene when -- no doubt to the ultimate mortification of Malmberg -- he and his nephew, Green, find amusement in Folke's interactions with Isak and his observation by Isak. I feel certain there was an entire world of Swede vs. Norwegian humor and observation that completely passed me by, but the one aspect of this most important to Kitchen Stories, the Swede as neutral observer in a film set in the fifties so soon after WWII during which Sweden was "neutral" while Norway took an active role and was invaded by the Nazis with many -- like Grant -- imprisoned or worse, was impossible to miss. Then there was the wonderful symbiotic relationship between Isak and his horse, both of whom we realize from the beginning of the film are dying, not to mention Isak's belief that his reward for participating in the study will be a new horse -- a real horse, not the wooden toy he's given. But of course, there will be no new horses for Isak. As he repeats several times, his father always said a man's death was preordained. I also loved the underlying theme of "neutral" observation, not only with respect to the WWII history, but also the implicit references to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle and the related "observer effect." In quantum mechanics, of course, this refers to the inability to accurately measure both the position and momentum of atomic particles as the photon used to measure the particle's position changes its momentum, thus rendering precise measurement impossible. In the larger world we may not be dealing with photons or atoms, but as Kitchen Stories demostrates it really isn't possible to truly "neutrally" observe another. Inevitably the observation impacts the one being observed so that in the end -- as in the film -- both observer and subject are changed. Actually there are so many great things about Kitchen Stories -- a movie that unfortunately could never be produced in America -- it's hard to know where to start or finish. This is one I'd seen before, but watched again with a group of friends before checking in with Lee's blog. While no one here has mentioned anything, a couple of those who watched with me were confused by the film's ending. One thought Isak had committed suicide, another was convinced he was still alive etc. I had never really considered the ending particularly ambiguous, but of course I couled have misunderstood it completely too. True, there's no explanation as to how Folke is able to go on living in Isak's house after his death, but I considered that a pretty minor detail. Essentially we know from the first scene with the horse and the first scene with the doctor, that both Isak and the horse are going to die. While it's pretty obvious this is what's happened when Grant discovers Isak in the kitchen, then when Folke returns to find Isak's horse being carted off to be put down, the ambulence by the front door, and first Grant, then the doctor emerging solemn-faced from the house. However, it's only when Folke is later shown in the kitchen putting out two coffee cups after hearing Grant's coded phone rings and the sound of his tractor approaching that we really know for certain. And while I did not see it coming, just as with Isak's death, Folke's eventual friendship with Grant, the man who had not so long before tried to kill him, is if not inevitable, certainly the way this film has to end: two more lonely men moving from observation -- in this case of course it's Grant who's been doing the observing of Folke through the windows -- to interaction and friendship.
Great choice, both quirky and deep. Here's a review I wrote for www.liarsociety.com:
Kitchen Stories is an extremely low-key exploration on culture clash. Set in the forward-thinking 1950s, a Swedish research group launches a study of kitchen ergonomics. Having successfully analyzed the housewife's routine, the next step is focusing on single males. Folke is one of the scientists dispatched to the frigid Norwegian countryside. His host is an aging, curmudgeonly farmer named Isak, who regrets volunteering and refuses to let Folke in. He eventually opens the door, and Folke sets up for work in a towering chair in a corner of the kitchen. The researchers are under strict orders not to interact with their subjects, and Isak deliberately remains inactive to spoil the study, so there is little action or dialog for a good part of the film. Instead there is a tense and funny deadlock between the men waiting for each other to make a move. Slowly they begin to come alive, out of longing for human companionship. Folke gets more involved in his subject's daily life, while Isak turns the tables and secretly watches the scientist through a hole in the ceiling. I'm sure I missed a lot of the cultural significance about the differences between the men's home countries, but the criticism towards Sweden's neutral observer role in World War II is clear. Things fall apart when the head of the study gets wind of his workers breaking the walls between themselves and their subjects, and Folke is fired. By that point the rational-minded scientist and the country bumpkin have become fast friends, both realizing the folly of the study. It's a sweet story that exceeds its small setting.
Reading the note from 'Jeeves' has inspired me to write. I too have been joining along on this 'film of the month club' and what great fun it is! I am not by nature one to write and probably will do so rarely, but I thought you should know Lee that yes, there probably are a lot of people like me and Jeeves who are enjoying all your postings very much but not commenting. We take advantage of everyone who does have the inclination and talent to write, so thank you all very much! And by the way, Kitchen Stories was great.
Hair cutting scene was one of my favorites in this film Bitsie. Good analysis of the 'Observer Effect" and some other interesting plot themes from Oldman.Nice animal friends Lee and I liked the newest fish clip. Quite a colorful tank you have there. Lucky Pinkie. We watched Children of Heaven and can recommend it highly. The Atlantic Records one sounds like MCOT....
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