Trailer Trashin’: Rinko Kikuchi Looks for Riches in Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter
Yet another Valentine’s Day is almost here, dear readers. Enjoy the holiday, and hopefully none of you will be dragged to see Fifty Shades of Grey by your significant others. In the meantime, this week’s Trailer Trashin’ column is a change of pace from the last couple weeks, with a look at the upcoming indie drama Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter.
Premise: Struggling twenty-something Kumiko (Rinko Kikuchi) lives in utter solitude in a cluttered, cramped apartment in Tokyo with her pet rabbit, Bunzo. She works a dead-end job under an awful boss, is intimidated by her well-off peers, and nagged incessantly by her overbearing mother. The only joy in her life comes from a grainy VHS tape – an American film in which a man buries a satchel of money in the snowy plains of the Midwest. Kumiko becomes convinced that this treasure is real, and obsesses over its discovery. With a hand-stitched treasure map and a quixotic spirit, Kumiko embarks on an incredible journey over the Pacific and through the frozen Minnesota wilderness to uncover a purported fortune.
My take: In the last few years, I’ve been trying to pay more attention to the world of independent films. My favorite film of 2013 was Joss Whedon’s Much Ado About Nothing, and Jon Favreau’s Chef was one of my favorites last year. Right now, the indie film that I’m most interested in is Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter, a movie about a young Japanese woman who believes that the buried treasure from Fargo (1996) actually exists, and goes to Minnesota to find it. A new trailer is out for the film, and it’s definitely one I’m keeping my eye on.
In terms of the cast, the only notable name is Rinko Kikuchi as the eponymous character Kumiko. While she first came to prominence in America for her Oscar-nominated role in Babel (2006), I know her best for her work in Pacific Rim (2013). Kikuchi is a great actress, and I’m so glad to finally see her in a leading role.
The imagery here looks really beautiful, from both the Tokyo and Minnesota sections of the film. The shots of the small figure of Kumiko bundled up in her coat contrasted with the vast snowy landscape is a great cinematic image, one that you could easily see someone getting framed and put on their wall. There’s also several nice pull quotes about the movie, including one from legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog, who calls it “A very beautiful, deep and touching film.” And I think that Bunzo, Kumiko’s pet rabbit who she brings with her to America, is absolutely adorable.
There’s not much else for me to say. This looks unlike any other film that’s come down the pike recently, and seems like just the right mix of elements to pique my interest. Assuming it’s playing somewhere near me, I’m definitely interested in checking out Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter when it releases next month.
ANTICIPATION: This looks like a treasure worth hunting down.
Starring: Rinko Kikuchi, Noboyuki Katsube, Shirley Venard, David Zellner, Nathan Zellner, Kanako Higashi, Ayaka Onishi, Mayuko Kawakita, Yumiko Hioki, and Brad Prather
Director: David Zellner
Writers: David Zellner and Nathan Zellner
P.S. So, how about that Spider-Man news, huh? While there’s a lot that remains to be seen about how this will play out, just the fact that Spidey will be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is amazing. The new Spider-Man will make his first appearance in the MCU in Captain America: Civil War next year, and then get a solo film in summer 2017. While I’m miffed about Black Panther and Captain Marvel getting pushed back, I’m still optimistic about what this means for Marvel’s future films.
Timothy Monforton
