Kitchen Stories
User Score
8.5 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 13
  3. Negative: 1 out of 13

Review this movie

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. DjuL.
    Feb 22, 2004
    10
    Excellent movie.
  2. SethF.
    Feb 29, 2004
    9
    Very funny yet poignant.
  3. Mank
    Aug 10, 2004
    10
    It's enough to jolly anyone out of a black mood. a really warm, lovely gem of a film - the best one i saw at the Melbourne International Film Festival, i think.
  4. SallyD.
    Jan 14, 2005
    9
    I enjoyed this movie thoroughly. The gradual shift in the relationship between the men was intelligent and very believable. The subtle theme of Norwegian-Swedish relations after the war added richness and complexity to the film. I have visited Norway and am aware that the resentment of the Norwegians towards the Swedes persisits to this day so it's interesting that this was addressed in such an understated but powerful way in this film. My take on the character of Folke was that he felt guiltyabout Sweden's neutrality which might explain his getting sick shortly after they crossed the border. It is also telling that he chose to move into Isak's house in Norway at the end of the film. Despite this serious theme however, I was delighted by the comic scenes in the film and laughed more than I do at many so-called comedies. The humor is gentle and, while it is poking fun at the "positivism" of the domestic engineering scientists, it is not at the expense of any individual character. While I felt initially put off by the gray presence of Folke that pretty quickly turned into sympathy for his impossible observing job from that absurd chair. Both the superb writing and acting managed to convey the quirky humanness of every character. Overall, Ithought this was one of the best films I have seen in a long time. It's the kind of film that I expect will stay with me for a long time and one I will be sure to pass on to friends and family.… Expand
  5. JonathanS.
    Feb 24, 2005
    10
    A gentle, beautiful film about the development of a friendship.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
75 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 33 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: D. W. Smith
    80
    Like all good films, it raises these types of questions, answering some, and leaving some for you to answer yourself.
    Read full review
  2. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Michael Rechtshaffen
    80
    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.
    Read full review
  3. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Peter Rainer
    80
    The film is saying that, left to their own devices, all men would devolve into a morass of monastic grouches. Kitchen Stories is a prime piece of comic anthropology.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »