It took a few people by surprise when Rinko Kikuchi (Pacific Rim, The Brothers Bloom) earned an Indie Spirit nomination for her role in Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter. The reason is that practically nobody saw the strange little film unless they were at Sundance earlier in the year. I was there and was mesmerized by what she was able to accomplish in the movie I called "a peculiar oddity that should appeal to those whose tastes favor the offbeat."
The first teaser for the film has been released and this one requires a bit of explanation. Written and directed by the Zellner Brothers, the story is based partially on true events surrounding a lonely Japanese woman who ventured to North Dakota in hopes of finding the missing money from the movie Fargo. Yes, the Coen Brothers film. Along the way she runs into a number of colorful Midwestern characters who aid in her fairy tale journey. What struck me most beyond Kikuchi's performance was the Zellners' ability to blend the quirky Coen Brothers tone with the somber mood of a Japanese drama.
Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter will open in theaters on March 13th.
