Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter 2015

Kumiko is a 29-year-old office worker living a life of complete isolation in Tokyo. Stuck in a dreadful job under a boss she detests — who reciprocates her feelings — and feeling alienated from her stylish colleagues, she constantly faces pressure from her overbearing mother to find a husband and settle down. The few bits of joy in her life come from her beloved pet rabbit, Bunzo, and her passion for treasure hunting. This hobby leads her to discover a VHS copy of the film Fargo hidden in a remote cave along the shore. Convinced that the film is real, she becomes completely obsessed, especially with the notorious scene where a character played by Steve Buscemi buries a bag of ransom money along a snowy highway. Kumiko meticulously studies this scene, taking notes on every detail. Her obsession drives her to attempt to steal an atlas from a library, but she is caught by the security guard, who, feeling pity for her, allows her to take a map of Minnesota instead.

As her situation at work becomes precarious, her attempts to reconnect with an old friend fail, and her mother’s constant nagging intensifies, Kumiko makes a bold decision — she abandons Bunzo on a train and boards a flight to Minneapolis using her boss’s company credit card. Armed with a hand-stitched treasure map and an unwarranted sense of adventure, she embarks on a remarkable journey across the Pacific and through the cold plains of Minnesota in search of her fortune. Upon arrival, she quickly realizes that she is ill-prepared for the brutal winter and struggles to communicate due to her limited understanding of English, with “Fargo” being her only reliable phrase. She finds temporary shelter with a kind elderly woman but decides to sneak away when the woman encourages her to stay.

Eventually, a sheriff’s deputy picks her up after concerned bystanders report her wandering in the streets, believing she is lost. Showing him the film, Kumiko attempts to gain his trust, but he struggles to explain that the film is merely fiction. In a well-meaning effort, he takes her to a Chinese restaurant, hoping to find a translator, completely oblivious to the fact that Chinese and Japanese are not interchangeable languages. While at the restaurant, Kumiko tries to contact her mother from a payphone, hoping for financial assistance, only to be disowned after revealing that she used her boss’s credit card. This heartbreaking conversation leads to a breakdown in front of the deputy.

While shopping for winter clothes, she shares a kiss with the officer, but he politely explains his marriage, once more trying to clarify that the treasure does not exist. Upset, Kumiko storms out of the store and jumps into a taxi, determined to reach Fargo. During the ride, she abruptly tells the driver to stop and escapes into the wilderness, leaving without paying. Her journey leads her to a frozen lake, where she believes she’s found the treasure while searching through the ice. Alas, her efforts reveal only a deteriorated oar instead of the fortune she seeks.

That night, in the midst of a snowstorm, Kumiko ventures deeper into the forest where the storm worsens and eventually buries her. The following morning, she emerges from the snow into a surreal landscape, only to discover what resembles the iconic setting from the Fargo scene and a marker indicating the treasure’s location. Finding the satchel filled with cash, she cannot contain her excitement, exclaiming, > “I was right after all.” Just then, Bunzo appears, and together, they walk away into the horizon, celebrating her profound victory.