Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter (2014)

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.

Director:

David Zellner

Writers:

David Zellner, Nathan Zellner

Stars:

Rinko Kikuchi, Nobuyuki Katsube, Kanako Higashi

10 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rinko Kikuchi	...	Kumiko
Nobuyuki Katsube	...	Sakagami
Kanako Higashi	...	Michi
Ichi Kyokaku	...	Library Security Guard
Ayaka Ônishi	...	Chieko (Young Office Girl)
Mayuko Kawakita	...	Ms. Kanazaki
Asami Tano	...	Office Lady
Ako Yoshida	...	Office Lady
Anna Wakamori	...	Office Lady
Risa Hotta	...	Office Lady
Hitomi Sawano	...	Office Lady
Maki Issô	...	Office Lady
Ariei Umefune	...	Office Lady
Takao Kinoshita	...	Dry Cleaning Clerk
Tetsuya Hayakawa	...	Dancing Couple

Storyline

A jaded Japanese woman becomes convinced that a satchel of money buried and lost in a fictional film, Fargo, is in fact, real. With a crudely drawn treasure map and limited preparation, she escapes her structured life in Tokyo and embarks on a foolhardy quest across the tundra of Minnesota in search of her mythical fortune.

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Plot Keywords:

treasure | rabbit | language barrier | female protagonist | mental illness | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

G

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although the film features footage from "Fargo," there is no acknowledgment in the end credits that the clips were licensed from MGM, its current owner, or anyone else.

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Goofs

Earlier in the film, a soapbox speech of an opposition politician is heard about how he is going to stop nuclear plants from operating again. Nuclear power became a major national issue only in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster, and a Tokyo politician would not have spoken about it before.

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Quotes

Older Woman: Solitude? It's just fancy loneliness.

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Crazy Credits

The credits are almost entirely bilingual in English and Japanese -- even though the movie has never been released in Japan as of early 2016 (either in theaters, media, or internet streaming).

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Connections

Version of This Is a True Story (2003)

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Soundtracks

I'll Read You A Story
Written by Cécile Schott (SACEM)
Performed by Cécile Schott (as Colleen)
Used courtesy of The Leaf Label
By Arrangement with Woodwork Music, Ltd.

User Reviews

Viewing the world through a whole different perspective

Kumiko, a Japanese employee, has only one hobby : treasures. She doesn't have any friends, and is really bored by her job. After seeing a VHS of "Fargo", she decides to travel to North Dakota to find the money hidden by Carl Showalter in the movie.

This movie is an excellent piece of work. Rinko Kikuchi appears under a new face with this introvert and amazing character, inspired by a true story.

David Zellner really did a good job of balancing comedy and drama : never exaggeratively funny, nor never desperately sad, the directing is very subtle and finds its own way to create an atmosphere around the point of view of an unusual character that sees the work differently than most of people do.

Which is, sometimes, really refreshing.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

20 February 2015 (UK)

Also Known As:

Kumiko

Filming Locations:

Minnesota, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$34,114, 22 March 2015

Gross USA:

$623,383

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$739,623

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lila 9th Productions, Ad Hominem Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1