Kitchen Stories

2003 Comedy

Director Bent Hamer's comedy drama Salmer Fra Kjøkkenet (Kitchen Stories) is based on the real-life social experiments conducted in Sweden during the 1950s. In the years following WWII, a research institute sets out to modernize the home kitchen by observing a handful of rural Norwegian bachelors. In the small town of Landstad, middle-aged Isak (Joachim Calmeyer) is one such research subject who regrets ever agreeing to participate in the study. Nevertheless, he is observed by Folke (Tomas Norström), and the two develop a strange friendship until the observer becomes sick. This causes a problem with Folke's boss (Reine Brynolfsson) and Isak's friend Grant (Bjørn Floberg).

Director: Bent Hamer

Starring: Joachim Calmeyer, Tomas Norstrom, Bjorn Floberg, Reine Brynolfsson, Sverre Anker Ousdal

Reviews

  • Some comedies make you laugh out loud. This one makes you smile inwardly, but often.

    Joe Morgenstern - The Wall Street Journal

    26 April 2013

  • In the wonderfully droll Kitchen Stories, Norwegian filmmaker Bent Hamer takes an already inspired premise and weaves it into a spry absurdist comedy that also manages to find some considerable warmth.

    Michael Rechtshaffen - The Hollywood Reporter

    26 April 2013

  • The film pays off eventually with a lovely story of friendship between two lonely men.

    Carla Meyer - The San Francisco Chronicle

    26 April 2013

  • The movie's gentle humor and offbeat whimsy prove that humanity trumps bureaucratic foolishness, in Norway or anywhere else.

    Michael Wilmington - The Chicago Tribune

    26 April 2013

  • The icy whimsy of Kitchen Stories is certainly well sustained, but you don't laugh at the movie so much as wait for the joke to thaw.

    Owen Gleiberman - Entertainment Weekly

    26 April 2013

Awards

  • Best Film (Årets norske kinofilm)

    Amanda Awards, Norway (2003)

  • Philip Øgaard

    Camerimage (2003)

     
  • Best Director

    Copenhagen International Film Festival (2003)

  • Best Director

    European Film Awards (2003)

     
  • Jörgen Bergmark

    Ghent International Film Festival (2003)