Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter (2014)

Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter (2014)
Director: David Zellner
== Synopsis ==
A jaded Japanese woman (Rinko Kikuchi) 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.
== Male Deaths ==
* None
== Female Deaths ==
* Rinko Kikuchi [Kumiko]
== Trivia ==
# Kumiko is assisted by a well-meaning state trooper who brings her to a Chinese restaurant, hoping they could help translate. In real life, Takako Konishi was helped by a state trooper who really did contact Chinese restaurants in a vain attempt to help.
# In a Q&A at the London Sundance Film Festival 2014, the director (and his brother who was not present) claimed that the ambiguous introduction was heavily influenced by the beginnings of the James Bond films that they so loved as children.
# Kumiko's mother constantly nags at Kumiko and demands that she come back and live with her multiple times. Takako Konishi's mother also repeatedly requested for Takako to come back home, though Takako and her mother were on better terms than Kumiko and her mother.
# 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.
# Takako Konishi was partially driven to suicide as a result of a failed relationship with a man from Fargo. This was combined with the role of the state trooper in the film, who Kumiko falls in love with - and his rejection is also partially a cause of Kumiko's apparent death in the film.
# Inspired by the true story of a Japanese woman, Takako Konishi, who was found dead in a field outside Detroit Lakes, Minnesota on November 15, 2001. The media insinuated that she was searching for the ransom money from Fargo (1996) because of conversations she had with state troopers.
# In real life, Takako Konishi committed suicide via vodka and sedatives.
# Both Takako Konishi and Kumiko stayed in a sleazy motel shortly before their deaths, though the one in the film is far less decrepit than the one Takako stayed in.
Category:2014 Films
Category:American Films
Category:Drama
Category:Films
Category:Independent Spirit Award Nominees
Category:Independent Spirit Award Winners
Category:Grand Jury Prize: U.S. Dramatic Nominees
Category:Films Premiered on Sundance Film Festival
Category:Films Premiered on SXSW