Swedish efficiency researchers come to Norway for a study of Norwegian men, to optimize their use of their kitchen. Folke Nilsson (Tomas NorströmKitchen Stories is assigned to study the habits of Isak Bjornsson (Joachim Calmeyer). By the rules of the research institute, Folke has to sit on a high chair in Isak's kitchen and observe him from there, but never talk to him. Isak stops to use his kitchen and observes Folke through a hole in the ceiling instead. However, the two lonely men slowly overcome the initial distrust and become friends.

Bent Hamer was amused after perusing post-war research books on the efficiency of the Swedish housewife, and pondered on the idea of research being done on men. This led to him making the film