Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter

There was nothing comedic about this movie. I found watching the descent into madness of a deeply depressed and disturbed young woman terrible and almost stopped watching it. But it grabbed me in the gut and I kept on. By this I recognize it as a powerful movie. But. Had I known what it was, I wouldn't have chosen to watch it.-- Maybe it's a kind of an allegory- the American 40s music playing, the fiction swallowed as truth, the fake treasure in America... I was interested to read in others' comments that this was based on a true incident chronicled in a Snap Judgment podcast about Takako Konishi.

A way to feel and experience the world of psychosis in a very aesthetic, deeply moving manner. Her quest is a "deliberate, terrific refusal to respond to anything but the deepest, highest, richest answer to the as-yet unknown demand of some waiting void within: a kind of total strike, or rejection of the offered terms of life, as a result of which some power of transformation carries the problem to a plane of new magnitudes, where it is suddenly and finally resolved." Joseph Campbell

Again, it's not my responsibility to understand a movie just like it's not my responsibility to stay for the ending of the end credits, (they even turn the lights on so that you can leave). SO, Kumiko the, Treasure Hunter. VERY GOOD. Ambiguous. BUT good. The plot is complicated to me. Not convuluted... complicated.

Anyone interested in learning the real story of this woman should really listen to the episode of the podcast Snap Judgement (episode: Fargo) and the documentary This is A True Story. It seems that Takako, the woman who inspired Kumiko, was in Fargo to commit suicide from the start. The story that is depicted here is based on rumors about Takako that were spread due to cultural misunderstandings between her and the Americans she interacted with. Knowing this, to me this movie feels kind of... exploitative? But of course, take this as you will.

Although this movie references Don Quijote throughout, it does so on a superficial level and kinda ignores the meaning behind the story of Don Quijote (a critique of romanticising the past). Unless they're trying to say something about reality TV or "based on a true story" movies which might be what they were getting at (and what I wish they were), but I personally think it didn't follow through with that.

Really incredible and beautiful picture. Great cinematography, Rinko is amazing as the lead, and the score is perfect. Makes for an overall worthwhile movie for me. As for its history, I recommend the Snap Judgement podcast episode on Takako Konishi called "Fargo," that goes in depth on the story this was based on. A great human story.

A really bad Zellner's approach. it depicts not only a naive and credulous Japanese girl but also a pollyanna unable to distinguish a movie from reality, Not to mention the negative connotation of depictIng supremacy of one culture over another, come on! This is a movie for people feeling good to make them feel frustrated and depressed. No more Zellner's movies.

A film I'm still thinking about two days later. A rare piece of abstract art, leaning more towards human Art than abstract, if we can lend this character a sense of compassion. It is a kind of poem of what it means to dream, to have a dream. The people who happen upon her life are banal if not annoying. Kumiko, herself, is awkward and neurotic, but there's something in there. She sees the kindness of one particular character in the film. There's a smile, which has more to do with the meaning of dream itself, than the matter of the dream. I also found the inclusion of "Fargo," (the occasional glimpses of Steve Buscemi) perfectly abstract and perfectly preposterous.

I really liked this movie! The cinematography was beautiful, the editing right on and Rinko Kikuchi perfect for the part.
Near the beginning, the sun rises and the music by The Octopus Project reminds me very much of the music in “2001, A Space Odyssey,” as Bowman travels across vast distances of space, viewing strange landscapes and ends up finding himself still in his pod in a bedroom and is eventually transformed into a fetus that floats in space. Cumin has traveled through strange landscapes on her odyssey, and in the end, we see Kumiko resurrected from her pile of snow and ending up walking into the distance with her new found treasure.
Also having just off viewing “Angel at My Table” again, I find Janet Frame and Kumiko have certain things in common. Both loners, shy, keeping to themselves, with one thought that helps them keep their minds. Janet Frame, her writing, Kumiko, her treasure. So, I’m mixing a little fact and fantasy here.
Although this movie by the Zellner brothers has a Cohen brothers flavor to it, it also has a David Lynch flavor for me.
I happy to see Bunzo got credit for playing Bunzo the Rabbit.