Imagine a 1940-style propaganda film, showcasing the efficient working of some government scheme. The appeal of 'Kitchen Stories' is that it creates the sort of vision such a film might promote as literal reality. The physical world of the 1940s is perfectly recreated; and although I don't find it strictly believable, the world in which the story takes place is exactly the sort of fantasy land you would have seen had you seen the propaganda at the time. Some more of the appeal comes because the location is northern Scandinavia and the government scheme in question is an unlikely study in personal observation, which gives the movie a quirky feel, although one cushioned by the fact that everything is deadpanned. The result is perfect (in its own terms) although also, perhaps, just a little pointless: a piece of understated showing off (if that's not a contradiction), but wonderfully done.
Review of Salmer fra kjøkkenet
