Kitchen Stories (2004)
90%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: 8 wins & 6 nominations
By turns touching and funny, this Norwegian import offers quietly absorbing commentary on modern life and friendship.
Kitchen Stories is a hilarious and heartwarming film that will make you appreciate the simple things in life, like a good cup of coffee and a warm friendship. The dry humor and subtle satire of Swedish society will have you chuckling throughout, while the touching relationship between the two leads will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. It’s the perfect movie to watch when you need a break from the fast-paced action flicks and want to slow down and enjoy the little moments. Plus, it’ll make you never look at Ikea designs the same way again.
Production Company(ies)
M K2 Productions, France 3 Cinéma C AB Productions,
Distributor
IFC Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for mild language
Year of Release
2003
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 35m
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Language(s):Norwegian, Swedish
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 15, 2003 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 14, 2004
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Joachim Calmeyer, Tomas Norström, Bjørn Floberg, Reine Brynolfsson, Sverre Anker Ousdal, Leif Andrée, directed by Bent Hamer, written by Bent Hamer, Jörgen Bergmark, Arve Figenschow, comedy, drama, Norwegian, PG, box office gross $349.3K, reviewed by Roger Moore, Peter Rainer, Marta Barber, Steven Rea, Marjorie Baumgarten, Richard Nilsen, Michael Dequina, Ken Hanke, Steve Schneider, Kevin John Bozelka, Jeff Vice, Sean P Means, 1950s, Swedish researchers, home kitchen, modern housewife, bachelors, rural Norwegian town, kitchen behavior, odd single man, personal interactions, strange camaraderie, mild language, IFC Films, surround sound, Jörgen Bergmark, Arve Figenschow
Worldwide gross: $2,823,472
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,576,486
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,204
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 499,072
US/Canada gross: $351,235
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $569,307
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,297
US/Canada opening weekend: $48,103
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $77,969
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,037
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Tomas Norström – Folke Nilsson
Bjørn Floberg – Grant
Reine Brynolfsson – Malmberg
Sverre Anker Ousdal – Dr. Jack Zac. Benjaminsen
Leif Andrée – Dr. Ljungberg
Director(s)
Bent Hamer
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Jörgen Bergmark, Arve Figenschow
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
8 wins & 6 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (74) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (67) | Rotten (7)
An ingeniously dry and bittersweet comedy about that 1940s and ’50s research.
November 29, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
A prime piece of comic anthropology.
August 7, 2004
Peter Rainer
New York Magazine/Vulture
TOP CRITIC
What starts as a satire of the methodical, modernity-seeking society in Sweden ends as a heartwarming dramatic comedy in Norway.
June 11, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Marta Barber
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
A thoroughly charming oddity. And, in the end, a moving one, too.
April 22, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Steven Rea
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
An enjoyable study of ridiculous regimentation and a sure balm to anyone who has overdosed on the efficient designs at Ikea.
April 17, 2004 | Rating: 3/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Kitchen Stories is so subtle that many viewers will not be aware that it’s screamingly funny.
April 15, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Richard Nilsen
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
The charm and chemistry of the two leads and subtle, wry moments of humor make for an endearing entertainment.
December 28, 2008 | Rating: 3/4
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com
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.
February 16, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
One of those rare winning exceptions to the axiom that movies should move, this one shows what advantage can be earned when men of good will sit still together.
November 24, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Steve Schneider
Orlando Weekly
What you’re left with is a relationship between two men that is untouched by macho posturing or any trace of anxiety — and a perfect respite from the action flick mentality.
June 17, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Kevin John Bozelka
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
A rich character piece with more than a few chuckle-worthy moments.
April 16, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Jeff Vice
Deseret News (Salt Lake City)
Hamer’s pacing is poky, and the ‘well, duh’ moral … hits the audience well before it is revealed to the characters.
April 16, 2004 | Rating: 2.5/4
Sean P. Means
Salt Lake Tribune…
Plot
In 1950s Norway, a Swedish researcher is sent to study the kitchen behavior of a single man, but despite strict orders to avoid personal interactions, he forms a strange camaraderie with his subject in the comedy/drama film “Kitchen Stories.”
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film stars Joachim Calmeyer as Isak Bjørvik and Tomas Norström as Folke Nilsson.
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