Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter (2014)

IMDb plot summary: A jaded Japanese woman discovers a hidden copy of Fargo (1996) on VHS, believing it to be a treasure map indicating the location of a large case of money.

Directed by David Zellner. Stars Rinko Kikuchi, Nobuyuki Katsube, and Kanako Higashi.

Kumiko the Treasure Hunter is a film about a lonely Japanese woman who becomes convinced that the movie Fargo is, in fact, real life, and she sets out to travel to North Dakota to try to find the stolen money in the story. She has no money, no friends, and very little grasp of English, but is determined to make her way across the country to find the treasure she's looking for. This movie made me extremely tense as I was watching it because I just knew that this could not end in a positive way. And while the gritty reality of the story absolutely does indicate that it doesn't end positively for her -- and I don't think that's a spoiler, because as I said, you know pretty early on that this can't possibly go well -- but it does move into some magic realism that allows it to at least put a more hopeful spin on this grim story. The actress playing Kumiko is almost too good at being determinedly vulnerable, and that often makes it difficult to watch. Seeing her interact with the different people attempting to help her make her way to Fargo is a mix of heartwarming and devastating. I appreciate that the film doesn't try to lean too hard on one of those feelings, but really lets both of them exist at the same time. An interesting movie, but a sad and difficult one to watch.

🎥 Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter (2014)

📊 Ranked #1538/4205 on my Flickchart

🎯 Flickscore™: 63

beat The Girl on a Motorcycle (#2133 → #2134)

lost to Till Death (held at #1091)

beat Backbeat (#1609 → #1610)

lost to The Country Girl (held at #1350)

lost to True Grit (held at #1479)

beat Interiors (#1545 → #1546)

lost to North by Northwest (held at #1513)

lost to Oscar (held at #1529)

lost to His Girl Friday (held at #1537)

beat The Piano (#1541 → #1542)

beat She's Having a Baby (#1539 → #1540)