Review of Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter (2014) by Art S — 25 Jan 2016

Apparently based on a true story (although one would be hard-pressed to believe that anyone could be so stupid unless a serious break with reality is involved), this film follows Kumiko who believes that she can find the money that Steve Buscemi hides in the snow in the movie Fargo.

Thus, she travels to Minnesota from Tokyo (after stealing her boss's company credit card) and wanders from Minneapolis up into the snowy hinterland. Rinko Kikuchi's performance is damn near somnambulant, presumably on purpose, for the movie eventually takes on the tone of a dream.

Indeed, the soundtrack becomes increasingly mystical and Kumiko seems almost shamanistic as she drags a dirty hotel blanket around the highways and byways of rural MN. The film itself occasionally feels like Fargo, revealing those from the upper Midwest to be denizens of their own planet, even as Japan is treated rather normally; no doubt we are taking Kumiko's point of view - this is her dream after all.

Yet, as enticing as this all sounds (and who wouldn't go for that absurd Fargo plot device?), the film itself is somewhat too slow, even though it remains safely unpretentious. Still, if you are in the mood to let this wash over you, it has its pleasures.