Salmer fra kjøkkenet (2003)

Director:

Bent Hamer

Writers:

Jörgen Bergmark (writer)
Bent Hamer (writer)

Release Date:

17 January 2003 (Norway)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

A scientific observer's job of observing an old cantakerous single man's kitchen habits is complicated by his growing friendship with him.

Plot Keywords:

Kitchen | Friendship | Norway | Chair | Observation

Awards:

8 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Joachim Calmeyer	...	Isak Bjørvik
Tomas Norström	...	Folke Nilsson
Bjørn Floberg	...	Grant
Reine Brynolfsson	...	Malmberg
Sverre Anker Ousdal	...	Dr. Jack Zac. Benjaminsen
Leif Andrée	...	Dr. Ljungberg
Gard B. Eidsvold	...	Bakkerman (as Gard Eidsvold)
Lennart Jähkel	...	Green
Trond Brænne	...	Ordforer
Bjørn Jenseg	...	Vaktmester
Jan Gunnar Røise	...	Vaktmesterassistent
Karin Lunden	...	Svensk selskapsdame
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Päivi Laakso	...	Finsk selskapsdame

Directed by
Bent Hamer

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jörgen Bergmark		writer
Bent Hamer		writer

Produced by
Jörgen Bergmark	....	producer
Arve Figenschow	....	line producer
Bent Hamer	....	producer

Original Music by
Hans Mathisen

Cinematography by
Philip Øgaard

Film Editing by
Pål Gengenbach

Casting by
Mette Holme Nielsen
Betten Vaager

Production Design by
Billy Johansson

Costume Design by
Karen Fabritius Gram

Makeup Department
Eros Codinas	....	hair stylist
Eva Rygh	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Nina B. Andersson	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Binne Thoresen	....	assistant director

Art Department
Per Arild Amundsen	....	carpenter
Gudrun Johanna Benonysdottir	....	assistant decorator (as Gudrun Benonysdottir)
Paul André Fuller	....	assistant decorator
Lars Erik Gurholt	....	carpenter
Rolf Kise	....	carpenter
Anders Lunde	....	property master
Erik Magnussen	....	construction manager
Olivier Marcouiller	....	assistant decorator
Geir Opheim	....	carpenter
Karen Søndrol	....	assistant art director
Caroline Størmer	....	props
Jens Petter Svensrud	....	construction manager
Morten Swang	....	assistant property master
Pål Tohje	....	carpenter

Sound Department
Per Carleson	....	sound
Petter Fladeby	....	sound re-recording mixer
Linda Forsén	....	sound
Lars Jameson	....	sound
Tomas Naug	....	boom operator
Willie Peterson-Berger	....	sound
Morten Solum	....	sound

Special Effects by
Pål Morten Hverven	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Erik Aavatsmark	....	still photographer
Charles Curran	....	first assistant camera: second camera
Knut Haraldsen	....	gaffer
Ingeborg Klyve	....	first assistant camera
Hilde Malme	....	camera operator: second camera
Jens J. Patterson	....	assistant camera
Ståle Rue	....	electrician
Matthew R. Soria	....	assistant grip
Johan Wallin	....	grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ingvill Fjeldstad	....	seamstress
Kari Steihaug	....	assistant costumer

Editorial Department
Janne Karin Hansen	....	assistant editor
Bente Helle	....	negative cutter
Torulf Henriksen	....	on-line editor
Kirsti Marie Hougen	....	post-production coordinator
Andrzej Kiwala	....	color grader
Jan Erik Nielsen	....	color timer

Music Department
Lars Petter Kristiansen	....	music recordist
Erik Valderhaug	....	music mixer

Other crew
Bjørn Bjølseth	....	production accountant
Teréz Hollo	....	production secretary
Aslaug Konradsdottir	....	script supervisor
Hanne Liseth	....	publicist
Kristian Mejdell Nissen	....	location manager
Eirik Ohna	....	location manager
Audun Skarbøvik	....	location scout
Pål Erik Solberg	....	production runner

Production Companies

• BOB Film Sweden AB
• Bulbul Films
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI)

Distributors

• A-Film Distribution (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Arsenal (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Filmladen (2005) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Frenetic Films (2003-2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Lady Film (2003) (Italy) (theatrical)
• SPO (Japan) (theatrical)
• IFC Films (2004) (USA) (subtitled)
• Les Films du Losange (France)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• MegaCom Film (MCF) (2004) (Yugoslavia) (all media)
• Sunfilm Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• United King Films (Israel)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (Switzerland) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Norsk Filmstudio  sound mixing
• Studio Lagnö  post-production sound

Also Known As:

Kitchen Stories (International: English title)
Psalmer från köket (Sweden)
Psalms from the Kitchen (literal English title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild language.

Runtime:

95 min | Argentina:96 min (Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente)

Country:

Norway | Sweden

Language:

Norwegian | Swedish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Switzerland:10 (canton of Zurich) | Hungary:14 | Australia:PG | Argentina:Atp | Germany:o.Al. | Norway:A | Philippines:G | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:Unrated | USA:PG | Brazil:14 | Finland:S | Czech Republic:12

Company:

BOB Film Sweden AB

Trivia:

At the beginning of the film, Malmberg (a Swede) becomes ill after having to drive on the right side of the road in Norway. Today both countries drive on the right. In 1967, Sweden switched to the right because making two versions of cars like Volvos and Saabs for domestic and foreign sales was inefficient. Also, there are many unguarded, unmarked border crossings points (unlike the crossing in the film); people would not realize which country they were in and sometimes ended up driving on the wrong side.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Brødrene Dal og mysteriet med Karl XIIs gamasjer: (#1.1)" (????)

Soundtrack:

Flickorna i Småland

The observer is observed!

This film was a surprise since we went without any preconceptions, having avoided reading about it beforehand. It is a droll attempt at film making by Bent Hamer, the director, who collaborated on the scenario.

The film presents a story that on its surface seems to be one thing, but deep inside there is an ode to friendship between two different, but stoic Scandinavian men, Isak and Folke, whose lives become entwined as they discover how they are similar, despite of all appearances. The story is set in the bleak and snowy Norwegian winter.

In the end, Folke is a better man by having known Isak, the man who he doesn't understand at the beginning of the story, but who unknown to him, was always looking over him, without the other one knowing it.

The three principals are very well portrayed. This film will resonate with people that find themselves alone at the last stages of their lives, and how they are changed by opening up to perfect strangers who are going through the same thing themselves.