Excellent, Without a doubt!!

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

This seemed like an interesting movie to watch on mubi, I didn't actually know much of what it is about, but based on the trailer the cinematography and mood seemed to be top notch, and they were, but nothing else really worked for me.Another reviewer wondered what motivates someone to make a movie like this, I was thinking about this too. The movie was slow, so there was a lot of time to think about. So I read this is based on a true story, I must have missed it if it was mentioned in the movie, but this might be one motivation. My initial idea when watching the movie was that they just wanted to be creative and artsy, probably made by people who work on advertising or music videos, but this may as well not be the case.So, the images on screen were stunning, the cinematography is absolutely great. The script is somewhat interesting, although I've never liked it when they reference other real movies within a movie. I don't know why, this just never worked for me, especially when it's such an integral part of the movie. But there are many more problems. Kumiko was left as a mystery. Maybe there were hints why she was the way she was - depressed, anti-social, delusional, autistic? She had a driving ambition to get money, but why? I never understood what was the motivation. Was it a social commentary for expectations towards women in Japanese culture? They surely underlined the work and family aspect, how women are expected to build their lives. Her mom was constantly asking Kumiko about dating etc, I have a hard time believing a mother of an autist or a mentallly ill would do this. She also meets an old friend which suggests that Kumiko wasn't always as she is now, so something must have happened, but what? And what's the connection between this and the quest for money. Why would a depressed woman obsess so much about money, what would she do with it. She also showed emotions towards her pet, but was clearly not big on people skills (even without the language barrier).Kumiko started out and stayed very distant in the movie and it was difficult to understand any of her actions. Maybe if she had been slightly more relatable this would have worked, or if they had opened a bit more of her past, but as it is, it definitely didn't work for me.

KUMIKO, THE TREASURE HUNTER is a quirky character piece partly based on reality. It tells the tale of a young and lonely Japanese woman who becomes obsessed with the Coen brothers film FARGO, convinced that the treasure buried in the snow in that film is real. To this end, she makes an odyssey to America, determine to find the treasure and become rich as a result. It's an odd set up for sure but this exemplary film works very well. It's a mix of subtle character humour and the tragedy inherent in the premise. Fans of social commentary will be delighted with the film's exploration of the place of young, single women in the workplace in Japanese and the psychological effects that the rejection of normal society may have.I was previously aware of lead actress Rinko Kikuchi through her role in the Hollywood blockbuster 47 RONIN. In that, she was absolutely dreadful, giving a scenery-chewing performance as an evil witch. In KUMIKO, THE TREASURE HUNTER, she's a delight, delivering a nuanced performance mostly through her expressions and her eyes alone. I challenge any viewer not to be choked up during the subway scene or to be moved by her character's plight. She's a refreshingly ordinary and damaged heroine, one you can really root for. The direction of this film is excellent throughout with, as you'd expect, lots of fine cinematography of the snowy countryside. It's not exactly a true story, but as a piece of cinema it's a small delight.

Based loosely (VERY loosely) on a true incident, "Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter" is a very good movie... but it isn't for everyone's taste, as some of the other user comments here indicate. Yes, it is both very slow and depressing, but I personally found it captivating. The character of Kumiko is fascinating, in part because it's clear that this woman has slowly had a mental breakdown, numbed by other things from a dead end job to not having a romantic partner in her life. Even when she receives some kindness from other people, she is unable to find even a little happiness. It's very sad, but I was willing to follow this woman to the end of the movie because I wanted to see how this utterly sympathetic character would end up. I admit the final scene is a little confusing, at least at first, but when you think about it for a while only one possible outcome for this woman is possible. Let me make clear again that this movie is not for everyone. If you are in a patient mood and don't mind seeing a relentlessly downbeat (but very well made) story, then I would recommend this movie to you.

Very interesting film about an isolated and apparently autistic girl who sets off to find an obsessional 'treasure' she believes she has discovered from a fictional movie.Although currently rated the same as 'Fast and Furious' on IMDb, which must be someone's idea of a bad joke, this movie is a work of art.The film, although humorous and often heartwarming, is in essence a tragic depiction of the search for meaning and self-worth in an individual who is alienated from the world and ultimately alone. The cinematography is at times hauntingly beautiful and the direction is superb.Well worth seeing.