Kitchen Stories
Seen it?2003 | 95 min | Drama, Comedy
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (91% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had almost no lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved Another Year or About Schmidt, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Funny with heart.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 35 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
- It's in Norwegian, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
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.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
91% on Rotten Tomatoes, 75 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.0 out of 10
- AwardsWeak
1 win and 2 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 7K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Bent Hamer
- Joachim CalmeyerIsak Bjørvik
- Tomas NorströmFolke Nilsson
- Bjørn FlobergGrant
- Reine BrynolfssonMalmberg
- Sverre Anker OusdalDr. Jack Zac. Benjaminsen
- Gard B. EidsvoldBakkemann
- Lennart JähkelGreen
- Leif AndréeDr. Ljungberg
- Bjørn JensegVaktmester
- Jan Gunnar RøiseVaktmesterassistent