AWFJ Movie of the Week, March 16-22: KUMIKO, THE TREASURE HUNTER
Opening March 18, the AWFJ Movie of the Week is Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter, the beguiling new film from actor-writer-director David Zellner and his co-writer brother Nathan Zellner. Their story is simple, yet brilliant. Lonely Japanese worker Kumiko (Rinko Kikuchi; The Brothers Bloom, Pacific Rim) finds a VHS copy of the Coen Brothers’ classic 1996 crime caper Fargo and, convinced by the title card assertion that it’s a true story, believes it to be a genuine treasure map that will lead her to a large stash of cash buried beneath the Minnesota snow. Read on…
Kikuchi is outstanding as the alienated woman who has discovered a purpose, albeit one that is complete folly; with very little dialogue, she powerfully conveys Kumiko’s increasingly manic determination to succeed in her quest, eschewing all human contact in the process. It’s a performance which anchors the more outlandish aspects of this story, and one that’s beautifully framed by some evocative cinematography from Sean Porter (Grassroots, Eden) which underscores both her enigmatic portrayal and the film’s fairy tale sensibilities.
It’s no surprise that Kumiko has already picked up multiple award from across the international festival circuit; it’s an intriguing, lyrical piece of ‘simply stunning’ cinema that is also likely to boast one of the years standout performances.
AWFJ Movie of the Week Panelists Comments:
Jennifer Merin: Kumiko The Treasure Hunter is simply stunning from beginning to end. In a superb performance, Rinko Kikuchi transforms from a delusional and desperate young woman on a futile search for movie myth treasure into a demented kabuki character. Whoa! Everything about the movie is brilliant. I can’t wait to see it again.
Liz Whittemore: With seven nominations and four wins to date and Rinko Kikuchi in the lead role, you’ve already got a winner. The premise alone, regardless of casting, is incredible. Taking a girl out of her element is one thing, but throwing in the absurdity of using a Fargo VHS as a treasure map is on a whole other plane of wonderful.
Nell Minow: Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter — because it is a fictional film based on the true story of a woman who thought that a fictional film (Fargo) was a true story.
MaryAnn Johanson: *Kumiko* *Kumiko* *Kumiko*! Such an amazing movie! Read more>>>
Film Details:
Title: Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter
Director: David Zellner
Release Date: March 18, 2015
Running Time: 105 minutes
Language: English, Japanese
Shooting Location(s): Minnesota; Toko, Japan
Principal Cast: Rinko Kikuchi, David Zellner, Nathan Zellner, Nobuyuki Katsube, Shirley Venard
Screenwriter(s): David Zellner, Nathan Zellner
Production Company: Lila 9th Productions, Ad Hominem Enterprises (in association with)
Distributor: Amplify
AWFJ Movie of the Week Panel Members: Nikki Baughan, Anne Brodie, Pam Grady, Leba Hertz, MaryAnn Johanson, Loren King, Cate Marquis, Katherine McLaughlin, Jennifer Merin, Nell Minow, Perri Nemiroff, Kristy Puchko, Sheila Roberts, Liz Whittemore, Jeanne Wolf.
Other Movies Opening the Week of March 16-20, 2015:
March 18
Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter
March 20
Tracers
The Gunman
The Divergent Series: Insurgent
Hunting Elephants
Lily & Kat
Danny Collins
The Walking Deceased
She’s Lost Control
Jauja
Backcountry
Do You Believe
Spring
Growing Up and Other Lies
Can’t Stand Losing You: Surviving the Police
Edited by Sandra Kraisirideja, AWFJ.org Associate Editor
