A patrolman and two innocent bystanders are discovered murdered in cold blood on a snowy highway in North Dakota, leading a very pregnant policewoman, Marge Gunderson (McDormand) on an investigation that uncovers a conspiracy of greed and ineptitude.
Minneapolis husband, father and car salesman, Jerry Lundegaard (Macy), who has long chafed under the thumb of his wealthy boss and father-in-law, concocts an elaborate scheme involving the kidnapping of his wife and a million-dollar ransom to pay off his extensive gambling debts. However, everything that could possibly go wrong does indeed go wrong.
Officer Gunderson's outwardly homespun and folksy persona conceals a penetrating mind and a fierce moral compass, and she easily sees through the poorly executed and badly hidden events perpetrated by the bumbling, yet highly dangerous kidnappers (Buscemi and Stormare).
- Frances McDormand
- William H. Macy
- Steve Buscemi
- Sharon Anderson
- Larry Brandenburg
- Tony Denman
- James Gaulke
- Steve Edelman
- Warren Keith
- Gary Houston
- Larissa Kokernot
- Melissa Peterman
- Steven Reevis
- Harve Presnell
- Peter Stormare
- Kurt Schweickhardt
- Sally Wingert
- Composer: Carter Burwell
- Executive Producer: Tim Bevan
- Editor: Ethan Coen
- Producer: Ethan Coen
- Screenplay: Ethan Coen
- Director: Joel Coen
- Editor: Joel Coen
- Screenplay: Joel Coen
- Cinematographer: Roger Deakins
- Set Decorator : Lauri Gaffin
- Executive Producer: Eric Fellner
- Production Designer: Rick Heinrichs
- Casting Director: John S. Lyons
- Costume Designer: Mary Zophres
- Art Director: Thomas P. Wilkins
- academy award
Best Actress : Frances McDormand - Best Original Screenplay : Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
screen actors guild
Best Actress : Frances McDormand
independent spirit award
Best Actor : William H. Macy- Best Film : Fargo
- Best Screenplay : Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
- Best Cinematography : Roger Deakins
- Best Actress : Frances McDormand
- Best Director : Joel Coen
l.a. film critics association
Best Screenplay : Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
golden satellite award
Best Actress Film, Drama: Frances McDormand- Best Director Film, Drama: Joel Coen
- Best Picture Drama: Fargo
