Fargo made its tv debut in the same way as it did on cinema screens in 1996. The coen brothers modern classic certainly has a plot that is stranger than. The fargo franchise claims it is based on a true story, but the movie and tv show tell stories that arent as reliable as that claim sounds. Synopsis fargo is a realitybased crime drama set in minnesota in 1987. Out of the respect for the dead, the rest has been told exactly as it occurred. Jerry lundegaards inept crime falls apart due to his and his henchmens bungling and the persistent police work of the quite pregnant marge gunderson. Although the show claims to be a true story, it merely utilizes. Although, the true story disclaimer was a joke, the movie was loosely based on some murders that occurred in the minnesota area in the 1970s. The true story behind the new movie argo about how cia operatives posing as a hollywood production team rescued six americans hiding in iran during the 1979 embassy crisis.
Heres a really super guide to fargo filming locations. That story was supposedly based off a series of events that took place in minnesota, but the t. Despite the fact thats its not really based on a true story the way the opening credits say darn tootin, the coen brothers grew up around the area and they did a really super job of capturing what the people are like in a part of the country that isnt often portrayed in the movies. Argo s central, nutty storylinein which the cia establishes a fake movie production, complete with a full script and ads in variety and the hollywood reporter, in order to rescue six. Frances mcdormand stars as marge gunderson, a pregnant minnesota police chief investigating roadside homicides that ensue after a desperate car salesman william h. Are the events depicted in fxs fargo tv series really true. Jul, 2019 today we dive into the true story of fargo. Apr 15, 2014 fargo, the tv series, premiering tuesday night on fx, begins exactly like fargo, the 1996 coen brothers film upon which it is based.
I recently attended a screening of the film kumiko, the treasure hunter at the walker art center in minneapolis, minnesota. Even so, fargo did take inspiration from two reallife events. Apr 14, 2015 fargo made its tv debut in the same way as it did on cinema screens in 1996. Oct 12, 2012 argo s central, nutty storylinein which the cia establishes a fake movie production, complete with a full script and ads in variety and the hollywood reporter, in order to rescue six. Fargo season 3 isnt a true story, no matter what that. Fargo s bloodiest scene was based on a real homicide. Fargo is an american black comedycrime drama anthology television series created and primarily written by noah hawley. The movie eventually made it as a series as fargo 2014. The first episode of fxs fargo series begins with the disclaimerthis is a true story. Every episode of fargo starts with the text, this is a true story. At the request of the survivors, the names have been changed. Apr 30, 2016 the media reported that she had left japan with the misunderstanding that the coen brothers fargo really was a true story and that there was a stash of money hidden somewhere in the snow on a. The coen brothers used the disclaimer as a storytelling device for the movie, and so has fargo showrunner noah hawley.
Well, at the beginning of fargo, theres a title card that reads, this is a true story. Fargo was based on a true story the nazis invented the minions. This is a nod to the way that the 1996 source movie fargo 1996 started also by claiming that its events were based on a true story. Macys character jerry lundegaard does in the movie isnt as widely publicized and appears to be a revelation even diehard fans probably didnt know. It begins with the information that it is based on a true story, and ends with a disclaimer that its persons and events are fictitious. But it seems the coens bluff might actually be a double bluff, as theyve now. Apr 20, 2017 you dont have to have a true story to make a true story movie.
The events depicted in this film took place in minnesota in 1987. How the cia used a fake scifi flick to rescue americans from tehran. Its based on the true story of david ghantt galifianikas, a vault supervisor at the charlotte loomis fargo depository in uptown charlotte that. Sheila vand left as sahar in the movie and the real maid named lolita right. The movie began in a similar way, and though i initially assumed it was some ironic joke i maybe didnt quite understand, i looked it up anyway. In 1996, we were led to believe the coen brothers breakthrough film, fargo, was a true story.
Argo is a 2012 american historical drama thriller film directed by ben affleck. Famously, fargo is based on a true story, even though the events depicted in the film never actually happened in any way, shape, or form. The media reported that she had left japan with the misunderstanding that the coen brothers fargo really was a true story and that there was a stash of. Macy is a car salesman in minneapolis who has gotten himself into debt and is so desperate for money. Fargo 1996 was directed by joel coen, produced by ethan coen, cowritten by the brothers, and set in the scandinavianamerican upper midwest where they grew up. The coen brothers modern classic certainly has a plot that is stranger than fiction pregnant police chief marge gunderson stum. How much of fargo is actually based on a true story. He had been distracted by thoughts of the workers he had laid off and hadnt been paying enough attention to what he was doing. The events that took place occurred in minnesota and the dakotas during 2006, 1979, and 2010or so the writers say. Despite the fact thats its not really based on a true story the way the opening credits say darn tootin, the coen brothers grew up around the area and they did a really super job of capturing what the people are like in a. Screenwriter chris terrio adapted the screenplay from the 1999 book by the u.
The truth behind that fargo true story disclaimer popdust. The 2014 series features actors who have previously starred in past coen brothers films. The movie fargo opens with this gritty opening line. Noah hawleys acclaimed midwestern crime anthology fargo returns to fx this week, along with my enthusiasm for saying oh. All three seasons of the tv version of fargo have come with a similar true story assertion, but like many aspects of the series, its use is purely to maintain the feel of the original movie. Fargo is a hilarious black comedy about a kidnapping plot gone wrong. Kumiko, the treasure hunter is relevant to the movie fargo, because it is based on an urban legend about a japanese woman w. Guild award nomination to billy bob thornton for outstanding performance by a male actor in a miniseries or television movie. The movie starts with captioning saying that the movie was inspired by a true story. Fargo is an american black comedycrime drama anthology television series created and. A story appearing on the guardian website confirms that the rumor of a japanese womantakako konishidying because she believed the story of fargo to be real and subsequently froze.
The media reported that she had left japan with the misunderstanding that the coen brothers fargo really was a true story and that there was a. Although the films plot is not based on a true story, the plot element of disposing of a body by a wood chipper is. An anomaly of categorization, the contemporary masterpiece is a film noir with stark white vistas and backdrops, a satirical comedy, a suspenseful crime drama, and a violent mystery. I looked him up and found actual murder cases that are strikingly similar to the shows events. Sep 26, 2017 the coen brothers commences the movie with a classic falsehood used in far too many movies and books.
True story or stories one of the major subversion of expectations comes with the first words on the screeneven before the opening creditsinforming that audience that the movie is based on a true story in which names were changed to protect survivors while the events remain unchanged out of respect for those who failed to survive. Fargo features a cast of talented actors with a cleverly written script. Based on a true story, a car salesman in minneapolis, mn, jerry lundegard hires two criminals to kidnap his wife. The true story behind operation argo to rescue americans. The acclaimed coen brothers movie opened in 1996 by telling audiences that what theyre about to see actually happened in some form.
However, things dont go according to plan and soon three people are dead outside of brainerd, mn. A postscript during the films end titles citing the argo incident as a model of international cooperation makes much more sense when you keep those facts in mind. Ben afflecks film argo tells the bizarre story of how in 1980 the cia with canadian help sprang a group of americans from iran after they escaped a. Fargo season 2 not only surpassed true detective and avoided the sophomore slump, but one wonders if fx put fargo in the emmys drama series category instead of. The events depicted in this film took place in minnesota in. I was on wikipedia and read how glennon englemann was mentioned as an inspiration for the show. Macy hires two criminals steve buscemi and peter stormare to kidnap his wife in order to extort a hefty ransom from his wealthy. It begins with the information that it is based on a true story, and ends with a disclaimer that its. The true story bit was just a joke on the part of directors joel and ethan.
Macy, frances mcdormand, steve buscemi, peter stormare. Fargo is a 1996 black comedy thriller film written, produced and directed by joel and ethan. In december 2001 the worlds media focused on the small town of fargo, north dakota, where the body of takako konishi was found in the woods by a hunter. The coen brothers reveal fargo is based on a true story after all. The events depicted took place in minnesota in 2006. Mar 09, 2016 the coen brothers 1996 classic fargo is prefaced with the following text.
The true story behind the legendary death of fargo. To watch it is to experience steadily mounting delight, as you realize the filmmakers have taken enormous risks, gotten away. Fargo is a realitybased crime drama set in minnesota in 1987. Central intelligence agency operative tony mendez, the master of disguise, and the 2007 wired article by joshuah bearman, the great escape. However in case of fargo, the movie which uses a similar. The true story behind ben afflecks globewinning film. The coen brothers reveal fargo is based on a true story.
The movie eventually made it as a series as fargo 2014 by noah hawley, which is set in the same universe as the film but did not include any of the same characters. Moreover, it calls attention to how the film could have been something quite different. Jan 18, 2020 the fargo franchise claims it is based on a true story, but the movie and tv show tell stories that arent as reliable as that claim sounds. This feature from the guardian chronicles the story of a japanese woman who journeyed to minnesota in order to commit suicidethough originally, it was believed that she was searching for the moneyfilled suitcase from fargo, thinking it was based on a true story as the movie claimed it was. Jun 18, 2014 the movie fargo, which is entirely different than the show, had a similar disclaimer. Fargo creator noah hawley explains the ufos in season 2. After saying some names have been changed to protect the innocent, the initial statement continues with. The series is inspired by the coen brothers film of the same name, reportedly about a true story. The show is inspired by the eponymous 1996 film written and directed by the coen brothers, who are credited as executive producers on the series alongside hawley. Inspired by joel and ethan coens 1996 film of the same name, fxs fargo furthers the icy minnesota saga. Oct 15, 2012 a postscript during the films end titles citing the argo incident as a model of international cooperation makes much more sense when you keep those facts in mind. Dontcha know its been 20 years since fargo was released. Macy is a car salesman in minneapolis who has gotten himself into debt and is so desperate for money that he hires two thugs steve buscemi, peter stormare to kidnap his own wife.
The woodchipper murder of helle crafts is known as inspiration for the film, but the true story of someone fudging serial numbers like william h. You dont have to have a true story to make a true story movie. Despite the disclaimer at the beginning this is a true story. The upside true story reveals that the reallife paragliding accident happened in the savoyard reliefs of mont bisanne in the swiss alps in 1993 when philippe was 42.
An anomaly of categorization, the contemporary masterpiece is a film noir with stark. Fargo film festival marked fargos tenth anniversary by projecting the movie on. The names have been changed in deference to the living, but. Argo movie true story meet the real tony mendez and the. Dec 11, 2015 fargo season 2 not only surpassed true detective and avoided the sophomore slump, but one wonders if fx put fargo in the emmys drama series category instead of miniseries, whether fargo or this. Fargos true story device is a bit of narrative trickery from showrunner noah hawley that harkens back to the original 1996 film. Naturally, the officers assumed takako was looking for the lost treasure. Its based on the true story of david ghantt galifianikas, a vault supervisor at the charlotte loomis fargo depository in uptown charlotte that was involved in the second largest cash robbery. Out of respect for the dead, the rest has been told exactly as it occurred. Coen brothers confirm fargo is a true story after all, or at. Fargo begins with an absolutely deadon familiarity with smalltown life in the frigid winter landscape of minnesota and north dakota.
Is the movie and tv show actually based on anything. A story appearing on the guardian website confirms that the rumor of a japanese womantakako konishidying because she believed the story of fargo to be real and subsequently froze to death searching for the case of money is simply untrue. Coen brothers confirm fargo is a true story after all, or. The comedycrime thriller put the coen brothers on the map. With mimi ohmori, jesse heliman, steve kilde, guy taima. Most of the time, when you ask if a film or tv show is based on a true story or not, you get a pretty straightforward yes or no answer. So even though fargo isnt actually based on a true story, the fact that they claim the events are true has consequences in the storytelling consequences like ufos. The use of that card dates back to the original 1996 film, but its never been truly true. Was philippe paralyzed as the result of a paragliding accident.
The real story behind the second largest bank heist in. The true story behind the argo movie reveals that this never actually happened, nor did they ever venture into town to scout a location. Text shown at the beginning of the coen brothers movie claims. Ben afflecks film argo tells the bizarre story of how in 1980 the cia with canadian help sprang a group of americans from iran after they escaped a us embassy overrun. However, when listening to the audio commentary included on the dvd, we hear the coen brothers admit that the. Those are the words that have begun every episode of the television series, fargo, for the past three seasons.
Was the housekeeper in the movie based on a real person. But when it comes to fargo, the lines between fact and fiction are blurred. Coen brothers confirm fargo is a true story after all, or at least based. Fargo 1996 is a selfproclaimed homespun murder story set in the whitewashed, winter wilderness of the frozen and bleak upper midwest. Jul 26, 2014 well, at the beginning of fargo, theres a title card that reads, this is a true story. The opening title card of the film reads, the events depicted in this film took place in minnesota in 1987.
Out of respect for the dead, the rest has been told exactly as. Fxs tv series fargo starring martin freeman and billy bob. The series is based upon the classic coen brothers film from 1996. Roderick jaynes is a pseudonym for the coen brothers themselves. In the opening scene of the the movie fargo it states that the events depicted in the film are based on actual even. Fargo is a 1996 black comedy thriller film written, produced and directed by joel and ethan coen.
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