Kitchen Stories, 2004, is my kind of film; quirky, thoughtful, and bittersweet. It's inspired by a 1950s group of Swedish researchers sent to Norway for a study of kitchen habits of middle-aged bachelors, ultimately used to design efficient kitchens. The analyst, perched in a hilariously high chair, like a tennis umpire, observes in the corner of the kitchen, under strict instructions not to interact with his cantankerous subject. Eventually, the men break the rules and end up forging a touching relationship.
The quiet, understated humor of this gentle little film, had me giggling at first, then laughing out loud. Some might see it as an allegory of a totalitarian regime, but I think it's really just a theme of simple human nature and friendship. Do yourself a favor and add this charming flick to your list before winter is over; it's set with a stark, snow-laden backdrop, perfect for this time of year. Wear woolly socks. Eat popcorn. Laugh.
Thanks for the recommendation. Blog friends have brought my attention to many a good, but obscure, film. I look forward to seeing it.
ReplyDeleteI just got some new wooly socks!
ReplyDeleteThis is how it's starting to go down at our house:
him - "why are we watching this?"
me - "tess from willow manor said to"
him - "oh"
I saw this one and loved the sweet quirkiness of the story.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice picture it seems to be. Love all the cars with their little caravans behind them.
ReplyDeleteIt's on my zip.ca list! I always love your recommendations.
ReplyDeleteI love the photos...
ReplyDeletePerhaps next winter will be my movie watching one.
I will return for all of your archived recommendations.
That pram is fabulous!
ReplyDeleteCro, I'd love to have the pram, the trailer and the car!
ReplyDeleteOn my favorite film list! Thanks
ReplyDeleteThis looks and sounds like one I'd enjoy. Thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteShall look out for it.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a fun-time movie. I'm adding it to my netflix pix... :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendation. I've added it to my queue.
ReplyDeleteI guess as a mother to many, I'm drawn to that lovely pram. I will never get around to watching all of your recommendations, but I add them to my list anyway and hope for days of wooly socks, movies, and pop corn. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks - can't wait to check this out. :-)
ReplyDeleteOh this one is quite good.
ReplyDeleteI recommend (for a Scandinavian film) one called "Elling".
Thanks For The Tip Willow,I Will Investigate.I'm into all things Scandinavian ....Sounds like my sort of film.
ReplyDeleteCoindidently , I,m in the middle of the Wallander boxset (with Kenneth Branagh) have you seen ?Rather good!
Nancy, Elling's going on my Netflix list. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteTony, no, I haven't seen it, but L O V E Branagh. I'm checking right now to see if Netflix has it. Thanks for the suggetion.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to take a look at this one. I read dozens of viewer reviews on the web and only because you wrote about the film. I wouldn't have paid much attention to it on Netflix otherwise. However, I'm still puzzled. "Swedish researchers sent to Norway to study kitchen habits of middle-aged bachelors." Does Sweden not have any middle-aged bachelors? After reading the summaries of Swedish-Norwegian attitudes, perhaps it is a social statement or maybe just a good excuse to use those cute little trailers.
ReplyDeleteR.J., I'm not sure exactly why the Swedes sent their study across the border into Norway. But it certainly adds to the comedy in playing up the tradition of mockery between Swedes and Norwegians.
ReplyDeleteI saw this film a number of years ago. i adore little known films, low key films and also Scandinavian films. A great heads up esp after all the hoopla of the Oscars.
ReplyDeletePS I also saw "Elling" and the Wallander films.
ReplyDeleteAnother enrichment from the queen
ReplyDeleteof idiocentric, independent, foreign
and terrific cinema. It goes on my
list too.
YES I loved this film- Saw it in our tiny indie theater ages ago. Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeletethis one is going on my list, sounds like a must see;)
ReplyDeleteA great story! I'd love to check it out.
ReplyDeleteThat baby stroller is amazing! It looks like it belongs in a musemum.
Ooh, that one was completely under my radar Tess. Many thanks, I'll track it down. The stills look wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThis is another one that I never saw. Not being much of a movie person (going to the theater type) was never my cup of tea for years as we had five kids to drag along. Now, popcorn costs more than shoes used to cost and I had to work my nubbins to the bone just to pay for the shoes. I think color television, via Kraft commercials saved us from who knows what?
ReplyDeletenever seen this film (which is a shock in itself as i'm a huge food film fan) but your description and what I can see of the syling have convinced me to see it... thank you..
ReplyDeletewill add to my netflix queue...
ReplyDeleteand that pram? a serious low-rider! just give it time and we'll be seeing the style make a return with the hollywood young mommy set ;-)
This is another one, I have never seen. Can not be a movie theater type of most of those who have never been my cup of tea, because we have five children dragged along.
ReplyDeletekitchen units
This looks like my kind of movie, and I've never heard of it. Thanks for the head's up! :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVED this movie! It was good to be reminded of it, again.
ReplyDeleteHow can a girl from a small town get her hands on movie's like this? Don't say netflix we tried. Will add this to our ever growing list of must watch films. Now I know where to come to for more good films to watch for.
ReplyDeleteWell, Christine, I will say Netflix, because that's how I found this one!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of this one, and it looks like it will be right down Bear's and my alley. Thanks for the recom!
ReplyDeleteSounds like fun--& those still are very intriguing, especially all the green "caravans"!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this recommendation Tess...I never heard of this movie before but I know I can depend on your reviews...I must have the same taste in movies as you...This will be added to my mile long Netflix list:)
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
ReplyDeleteI thank you for recommending this quirky film as something out of the ordinary. I will be looking for it.
Your masthead is terrific!
Your blogs layout, design and usage of typography are very refreshing, a visual delight.
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Egmont