Review: 'Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter' Starring Rinko Kikuchi Will Dazzle And Delight

Living in a cramped Tokyo apartment while holding down an unfulfilling job, the lonely and disenchanted Kumiko yearns for something deeper in her life. Much of her alienation stems from the weight of expectations around her. An “OL” (office lady) for a Japanese businessman, she mechanically goes through the motions of her job fetching him tea and dropping off and picking up his laundry. Quieter, and thus odder, than everyone else, Kumiko unfortunately stands out. Her fussy thinks it’s strange that a 29-year-old woman does not have a fiancé, husband or children and notes that by 30, most OLs have gone on to other careers. Does she have bigger plans? Is she thinking about her future? For the largely stuck-in-a-rut Kumiko, these are difficult questions not only to answer, but to address for herself.

She is also hounded by her mother's expectations. Where has she been? What is she doing? Has she found a man yet, and if not, what’s taking so long? Introverted and shy, these...