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Poster for Kitchen Stories

Kitchen Stories

2003 · 1h 35m · PG Comedy, Drama
Directed by Bent Hamer

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Overview

Swedish efficiency researchers come to Norway for a study of Norwegian men, to optimize their use of their kitchen. Folke Nilsson (Tomas Norström) is assigned to study the habits of Isak Bjørvik (Joachim Calmeyer). By the rules of the research institute, Folke has to sit on an umpire's chair in Isak's kitchen and observe him from there, but never talk to him. Isak stops using his kitchen and observes Folke through a hole in the ceiling instead. However, the two lonely men slowly overcome the initial post-war Norwegian-Swede distrust and become friends.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
91%
Tomatometer
Fresh

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

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
Fresh

A prime piece of comic anthropology.

Peter Rainer, New York Magazine/Vulture
Fresh

What starts as a satire of the methodical, modernity-seeking society in Sweden ends as a heartwarming dramatic comedy in Norway.

Marta Barber, Miami Herald
Fresh

A thoroughly charming oddity. And, in the end, a moving one, too.

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
Fresh

Kitchen Stories is so subtle that many viewers will not be aware that it's screamingly funny.

Richard Nilsen, Arizona Republic

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