KUMIKO, THE TREASURE HUNTER

Kumiko (Rinko Kikuchi) is a young woman living a lonely life in Tokyo, Japan. Going to work as an Office Lady, Kumiko can not find a way out of the world she feels trapped in. During a walk on the beach she finds the VHS of the movie FARGO and becomes obsessed.

A scene in the film where a suitcase filled with money is buried in the snow of Fargo, North Dakota, Kumiko believes it is a treasure waiting for her to dig up. Day after day dealing with her boss, he asks her to go buy his wife a gift giving Kumiko the company credit card.

Now the plan takes shape as she takes a plane ride landing in Minnesota but the credit card is frozen and so is the wilderness! She meets a policeman (played by David Zellner) who wants nothing more than to help Kumiko but also breaks the news to her that there is no treasure.

Nothing is going to stop her from finding the treasure of her dreams!

FINAL WORD: Kikuchi as Kumiko is just every descriptor there is. She portrays this character as sad, depressed, introverted, loving, frustrated in silence, dangerous, adventurous, head-strong, defiant, and strong-willed – I mean the list is endless. There didn’t need to be much scripted wording here because Kikuchi doesn’t need it period!

My first exposure to this clearly amazing actress is in the 2006 film BABEL. Her resume is filled with roles that continue to show her chops. As the Witch in the 2013 film 47 RONIN, I just loved her grace – even if she is a witch! In that same year she took the role of Mako Mori in Guillermo Del Torro’s futuristic gigantic robotics flick PACIFIC RIM.

Other cast include: Nobuyuki Katsube as Sakagami, Shirley Venard as the Older Woman, Nathan Zellner as Robert, Kanako Higashi as Michi, Ichi Kyokaku as the Library Security Guard, and Brad Prather as Brad.

TUBS OF POPCORN: I give KUMIKO, THE TREASURE HUNTER four tubs of popcorn out of five. What a total mind bending journey with so little said. The film is completely carried by Kikuchi who delivers spectacularly. She is so riveting to watch as her compulsion starts out a tad eerie but watching this character remain steadfast it’s easy to find oneself rooting for her!

David and Nathan Zellner have been writing for more than a decade out of Austin, Texas. KUMIKO, THE TREASURE HUNTER premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2014 and was nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards for Best Actress and Best Director.

The cinematography is nothing short of amazing; especially the dark walk in the North Dakota woods but equally stellar is the intense music in that same scene. It is just frightening as the score grows loud and intense to a silence that is equally as deafening. Just beautifully done, really beautifully done.

In the end – her obsession never waivers!