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Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Terrible acting, screenplay and direction.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

The next time that hot topic comes up at the pub quiz or during intelligent dinner-party chit-chat, that of the complexities of and the chief protagonists in Norwegian Cinema, you'll at least be able to add this little gem to the topic.You'll immediately be seen as a true film-buff and you can feel very happy with yourself, especially as no-one else will know what the heck you're talking about. Throw in the film's premise and they'll start checking what alcoholic drinks you've imbibed on.I'm sure you've read by now that it's all to do with a 1950's social survey on how single men use their kitchen compared to married women. Even the funny little snail-like caravans that the surveyors sleep in resemble strange kitchen appliances. Director and co-writer Bent Hamer, who later made the more approachable and conventional 'O'Horten' certainly has a creative and mischievous eye and we are always quietly enthralled by the odd but homely goings on.The increasing interaction between the surveyor Folke (Tomas Norstrom) (who has been expressly told to say nothing to his subject) and Norvicke (Joachim Calmeyer), firstly when the latter's friends call by and they seem to dismiss as having a man in a thick suit and tie sat high up on a step ladder as completely normal and then conversation slowly but surely develops.Kitchen Stories remains one of World Cinema's hidden gems - quite modest, rather eccentric and totally unforgettable. Ultimately heart- warming also, this is one quirky little Euro-flick that can be enjoyed by many and many times over, too.

I really don't want to write a lot about this movie, because I have some feeling that I don't know too much about Nordic mentality.Like I said, to me, the whole movie seemed weird and usual at the same time. I tried to compare Isak and Folke with two regular humans ... one comes from the city or urban area, and another one is from a village being a little traditional or, being of that sort of a mentality. So, both of them, like every other human being, have prejudice and stereotypes about one another, and it's time to see how would they get along...What I loved the most is the whole process of getting to know each other, and that cold but yet warm care about one another, because in the end, we are all humans, nevertheless of where we come from...It was really heart warming story about new friendship.

After watching this wonderfully original film, I could not help but ponder how in the world the writer managed to obtain the means for production, to put this story onto film. We are lucky those who read the script had the calm vision to see the genius. This is an absolute masterpiece of film making. As another member commented, many directors are afraid to allow the natural human pace to guide the energy of the film. Indeed, the tempo of the characters is core to the essence of the film and is truly educating. Everything works in this film, the dialogue the characters, the period. The movie reaches that special level of intelligence where it could easily come across boring, but every second keeps you captivated. And that is pure magic. The acting is impeccable and the dialogue utterly brilliant. This is a film that people will be watching hundreds of years from now. I give it a 10 out of 10, it is perfection.

The film starts out great, with a mock instruction film about the habits of Swedish housewives. After that we get a detailed reconstruction of post-war Scandinavia with lots of amazing cars, electronic equipment and interior design; a minimal jazz score, nice cinematography and stylish titling. Also there's some funny Scandinivian rivalry like in Von Triers 'Riget'.Sadly, after the set up, "Kitchen stories" collapses like the Twin Towers on 9/11.Actors who try to portray the emotion 'jealousy" by just staring in front of them. Corny dialog filled with stale gay symbolism in the vain of: "I don't like white swans, I prefer bears and wolves... u ever tasted bear meat?" The music becomes cheesier than Yann Tiersen at his worst.It's a pity the director put all the effort in this great set-up, just to screw it up after-wards.