Tuesday, March 1, 2011

kitchen stories



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.

40 comments:

  1. Thanks for the recommendation. Blog friends have brought my attention to many a good, but obscure, film. I look forward to seeing it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I just got some new wooly socks!
    This 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"

    ReplyDelete
  3. I saw this one and loved the sweet quirkiness of the story.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a nice picture it seems to be. Love all the cars with their little caravans behind them.

    ReplyDelete
  5. It's on my zip.ca list! I always love your recommendations.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love the photos...

    Perhaps next winter will be my movie watching one.
    I will return for all of your archived recommendations.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Cro, I'd love to have the pram, the trailer and the car!

    ReplyDelete
  8. On my favorite film list! Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  9. This looks and sounds like one I'd enjoy. Thanks for the tip!

    ReplyDelete
  10. This sounds like a fun-time movie. I'm adding it to my netflix pix... :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks for the recommendation. I've added it to my queue.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I 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. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks - can't wait to check this out. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh this one is quite good.
    I recommend (for a Scandinavian film) one called "Elling".

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks For The Tip Willow,I Will Investigate.I'm into all things Scandinavian ....Sounds like my sort of film.
    Coindidently , I,m in the middle of the Wallander boxset (with Kenneth Branagh) have you seen ?Rather good!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Nancy, Elling's going on my Netflix list. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Tony, 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.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'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.

    ReplyDelete
  19. R.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.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I 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.

    ReplyDelete
  21. PS I also saw "Elling" and the Wallander films.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Another enrichment from the queen
    of idiocentric, independent, foreign
    and terrific cinema. It goes on my
    list too.

    ReplyDelete
  23. YES I loved this film- Saw it in our tiny indie theater ages ago. Thanks for the reminder!

    ReplyDelete
  24. this one is going on my list, sounds like a must see;)

    ReplyDelete
  25. A great story! I'd love to check it out.

    That baby stroller is amazing! It looks like it belongs in a musemum.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Ooh, that one was completely under my radar Tess. Many thanks, I'll track it down. The stills look wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  27. This 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?

    ReplyDelete
  28. never 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..

    ReplyDelete
  29. will add to my netflix queue...

    and 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 ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  30. 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.

    kitchen units

    ReplyDelete
  31. This looks like my kind of movie, and I've never heard of it. Thanks for the head's up! :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. I LOVED this movie! It was good to be reminded of it, again.

    ReplyDelete
  33. How 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.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Well, Christine, I will say Netflix, because that's how I found this one!

    ReplyDelete
  35. I've never heard of this one, and it looks like it will be right down Bear's and my alley. Thanks for the recom!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Sounds like fun--& those still are very intriguing, especially all the green "caravans"!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Thank 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:)

    ReplyDelete
  38. Greetings,

    I 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.

    Warmest regards,
    Egmont

    ReplyDelete

Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)