Two middle-aged Scandinavian men sit around and become friends: How does that work out to be a delicious comedy? The answer is in Kitchen Stories, a truly delightful movie that played here last fall at the Toronto International Film Festival and also enjoyed success at Cannes.

Kitchen Stories is loosely based on actual research conducted in Sweden in the 1950s. Women were carefully observed in their kitchens -- what routines they used, how their floor, counter and cupboard space were organized, etc. -- so that housework techniques could be refined. No, really. It happened. We're not making that up.

In Kitchen Stories, a team from the Swedish Home Research Institute takes this study concept and tries it out on bachelors in rural Landstad, in Norway. From the perfect little 'modern' trailers each scientist is meant to live in, through to the elevated (and entirely absurd) chair he's to sit in while observing and note-taking, the scientist's tools are ridiculous. And funny. And doubly silly in the country setting.

The story centres on a reluctant farmer named Isak (Joachim Calmeyer) and on his personal scientist-visitor from Sweden, Folke (Tomas Norstrom).

Isak is highly reluctant to allow the scientist into his house, but eventually, Folke takes up residence in his ludicrous chair in the corner of the kitchen.

The rules of the game are strict: No contact or conversation with the observed subject. But one day, Folke dares borrow the salt. And on another day, he tosses his pipe tobacco to Isak. And then he actually gets down from his chair to accept a cup of coffee ...

And then camaraderie and conversation trump research. The slow development of a friendship between these two men (and the triumph of humanity over science, we dare say) is the centre of Kitchen Stories, and it is a delight to observe. The performances are understated and touching, the humour mostly deadpan, the philosophical message subtle.

Kitchen Stories is just the sort of film that any adult who has given up going to the movies, and for good reason, will love. The film is in Swedish and Norwegian, with English subtitles. Kitchen Stories is a rare and wry treat.

(This film is rated PG)

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