Kitchen Stories

PG

Released Jan 15, 2003

1h 35m

Comedy

Drama

List

91%

74 Reviews

Tomatometer

86%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In the 1950s, a team of Swedish researchers plans to revolutionize the home kitchen. After observing the modern housewife, they set their sights on typical bachelors. Scientist Folke (Tomas Norström) is sent to a rural Norwegian town, where he tracks the kitchen behavior of odd single man Isak (Joachim Calmeyer). Folke is under strict orders to avoid personal interactions with his subject at all costs, but despite warnings from his superiors, he strikes up a strange camaraderie with Isak.

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Critics Consensus

By turns touching and funny, this Norwegian import offers quietly absorbing commentary on modern life and friendship.

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Empire Magazine

Rated: 4/5

Apr 1, 2006

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Roger Moore

Orlando Sentinel

An ingeniously dry and bittersweet comedy about that 1940s and '50s research.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 29, 2004

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Peter Rainer

New York Magazine/Vulture

A prime piece of comic anthropology.

Aug 7, 2004

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Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

The charm and chemistry of the two leads and subtle, wry moments of humor make for an endearing entertainment.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 28, 2008

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Film Threat

Rated: 4/5

Dec 6, 2005

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Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Not the sort of film you'd want a steady diet of, but as a change of pace from the ordinary, it's well worth a look.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 16, 2005

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Audience Member

Best thing since sliced bread.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Our Daily Free Stream: Bent Hamer - Kitchen Stories (german dubbed). Es ist unsere Woche der Norwave, der neuen Welle aus Norwegen. Und einer der ersten Vertreter war Bent Hamer, dessen surreales Gemälde Kitchen Stories heute gestreamt werden kann. Kein Dialog kann darüber hinwegtäuschen, dass Kitchen Stories ein Stummfilm ist. Einfach ein Bild und vielleicht ein Komödie? Falls es eine ist, bewirkt der Blick zurück in ein vergangenes Jahrzehnt, dass wir lachen müssen: In den 50ern versuchte die schwedische Regierung die Bewegungsabläufe von Hausfrauen während der Arbeit zu erforschen. Mit den Forschungsergebnissen wollte man die Technik der Einbauküche optimieren. Bent Hamer aus Norwegen hat diese Idee auf sein Land übertragen. Die schwedischen Feldforscher dringen vor in das entlegene Dorf Landstad, wo ein paar Junggesellen ihre Höfe bewirtschaften. Folke, der Forscher, platziert sich also bei Isak in die Küche und wartet ab. Dabei versucht er, möglichst unsichtbar zu wirken. Er wartet, doch es geschieht nichts... Das ist die Idee von Kitchen Stories: Zwei Männer in einem Raum, füreinander unsichtbar. Ein bisschen Handlung spendiert Bent Hamer, damits ein Kinofilm wird. Es gelingt ihm auch, ein Ende zu finden - und doch: Im Grunde ist Kitchen Stories ein Standbild, dass von uns weitergesponnen werden kann. mehr auf cinegeek.de http://cinegeek.de/news

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This movie mixes a gentle critique of time-motion studies with Nordic culture in all its stillness and restraint. Worth watching every few years.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is a slow burn with lots of little mood swings that take some understanding and patience to grasp under the surface. I enjoyed it the first time I watched it, and even more the next few times. Just nice people trying to work and live there lives in the cold impersonal world of 1950s Scandinavian. SKOL!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The premise sounds like it could be hilarious, but the comedy in this movie is very low key, perhaps a little too so. It is still a charming little slight character piece. A little slow, though.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Norwegian. A more quiet story at moments. Curious norwegians trying to design a more , improved kitchen. Heartwarming.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

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Bent Hamer

Director

Joachim Calmeyer

Isak Bjørvik

Tomas Norström

Folke Nilsson

Bjørn Floberg

Grant

Reine Brynolfsson

Malmberg

Sverre Anker Ousdal

Dr. Jack Zac. Benjaminsen

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Synopsis

In the 1950s, a team of Swedish researchers plans to revolutionize the home kitchen. After observing the modern housewife, they set their sights on typical bachelors. Scientist Folke (Tomas Norström) is sent to a rural Norwegian town, where he tracks the kitchen behavior of odd single man Isak (Joachim Calmeyer). Folke is under strict orders to avoid personal interactions with his subject at all costs, but despite warnings from his superiors, he strikes up a strange camaraderie with Isak.

Director: Bent Hamer
Screenwriter: Bent Hamer
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: BOB Film Sweden AB, Bulbul Films
Rating: PG (Mild Language)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: Norwegian
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 15, 2003, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 27, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $349.3K
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Surround