Fargo

While the Coen Brothers famously open the film with text claiming it is based on a true story, the plot is entirely fictional. The directors added this disclaimer as a stylistic choice to ground the absurd violence in a sense of realism. They later admitted in interviews that they had never actually witnessed a real kidnapping.

Despite the movie taking place in Minnesota and North Dakota, the vast majority of principal photography occurred in Minnesota. The brutal winter scenes were shot in and around the Minneapolis area. The famous woodchipper scene, in particular, was filmed on a farm near the town of Roseau.

After the violent shootout, the pregnant police chief Marge Gunderson discovers a briefcase containing the $80,000 ransom buried in the snow. Steve Buscemi's character had stashed the money there before he was killed and fed into a woodchipper. The recovered money is eventually returned to the wealthy car dealership owner.

The iconic role of Marge Gunderson was played by actress Frances McDormand. Her brilliant performance earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress at the 1997 Oscars. She is married to Joel Coen, who co-wrote and directed the film alongside his brother Ethan.