Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter (2014)

Drama

Director: David Zellner
Writers: David Zellner, Nathan Zellner
Starring: Rinko Kikuchi, Nobuyuki Katsube, Kanako Higashi, Ichi Kyokaku

The premise of this indie comedy/drama is pretty appealing: Kumiko is a lonely misfit office worker from Tokyo who becomes somewhat obsessed with the Coen brothers' classic crime film Fargo and, tired of her boring life and dead-end job, she travels to America in search of the bag of money Steve Buscemi buried in the snow before Peter Stormare killed him.

Inspired by the real-life story/urban legend of Takako Konish, Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter sets out to be a tragic story about a lonesome and unhappy Japanese woman, but manages to be strangely uplifting, especially due to the charisma and great acting of Rinki Kikuchi (Babel, Pacific Rim) in the title role, but also the good directing, beautiful cinematography, great script and the perfect, surrealist ending. Part road movie, part treasure hunt, this slow-burning and emotionally charged gem will make you sympathize with the troubled heroine and leave you rooting for the impossible.

Plot summary from IMDb: 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.

Awards: 10 wins & 7 nominations.
Runtime: 105 min
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