|
|
An Oscar party in Fargo?
You betcha!March 25, 1997
Web posted at: 2:30 a.m. ESTFARGO, North Dakota (CNN) -- Limousines and designer dresses? Try pickup trucks and hooded parkas. Caviar on Melba toast? How about pickled herring on a Ritz. This is Fargo, after all.
Residents -- at least those with a good sense of humor -- turned out Monday night to honor the Oscar-nominated movie "Fargo" and to prove that no one can better poke fun at their town than the town itself.
"We're here to celebrate our strength, our resilience and our ability to laugh at ourselves," said Margie Bailly, who helped organize the bash at the city's historic Fargo Theatre. "Besides, we need a party right about now. We're smack in the middle of the snow and the flood seasons."
"Fargo," directed by Minnesota natives Joel and Ethan Coen, is a dark comedy about a Minnesota car salesman who hires two hitmen in Fargo to kidnap his wife. It was nominated for seven Academy Awards.
The Coen brothers won best original screenplay for the film, while Frances McDormand won best actress for her portrayal of a small-town, pregnant police chief trying to solve a kidnapping.
"We five women (nominees) were fortunate to have the choice, not just the opportunity, but choice to play such rich, complex female characters," McDormand said upon accepting her award. "And I encourage writers and directors to keep these really interesting female roles coming, and while you're at it, you can throw in a few for the men as well."
'Fargo! Fargo!'
Yet it was more than 870 residents donning flannel, big furry hats and exaggerated Norwegian accents who made Fargo's own version of an Oscar-night party so special.
They erupted into cheers, chanting "Fargo! Fargo!" when the picture won for best original screen play and best actress. There were a few boos when it didn't win best picture.
Even before the Academy Awards began, people started gathering at the theater, dancing to a live polka band and snacking on Scandinavian favorites such as pickled herring, lime Jell-O and rommegrot, a fatty, white pudding.
"I took off work and came just for this, don'tcha know," said Jackie Robertson, of Fertile, Minnesota, who came dressed the part of Gunderson, the pregnant police chief played by McDormand.
Instead of an Oscar statuette outside the theater, there was an "Olie," a department store mannequin clad in long underwear and a hat. An ice-fishing hut and snowmobiles crowded the sidewalk along with a wood chipper, a device used in the movie by one character to dispose of another.
"I think we've covered just about every cliche people think of when they think of Fargo," Bailly said.
A Fargo film festival?
But this isn't the first time Fargoans have had a brush with the famous.
On the town's own ice-covered walk of fame, there's an impression made by Metallica's lead singer, James Hetfield.
"(It's from) when he put his hand in the cement," said Mike Stevens, the walk's founder.
It's also the only memento Stevens has ever had to alter.
"He actually made an obscene gesture and so we put another finger in there so it looked like he was giving the peace sign," Stevens said.
Since Fargo's successful release, Hollywood has been cozying up to the place even more.
In fact, there's talk of starting a film festival here. CBS is even planning a Fargo TV series. Ultimately, "Fargo" the film may do for North Dakota what "Field of Dreams" did for Iowa.
The reason may be the film's healthy dose of good-natured ribbing, playing up every Upper Midwestern stereotype imaginable: Everyone is Norwegian, it's always cold, life moves a little slower.
However, not everyone likes the film's representation.
Fargo's mayor, for one, believes the story of bungling hitmen and Scandinavian accents if off the mark.
"The idea of having hitmen in Fargo is not real," said Mayor Bruce Furness.
The real Fargo is a place where farmers at the grain elevator have their own keys to the nearby coffee shop, so they can make their own at 6 a.m.
It's also a place where Bill Byers has named his bison Avis, Betty Gertrude and Gladys, saving a special name for his bull.
"We named him Shaq after Shaquille O'Neal," Byers says. "You can see his ear tag number is 32, that was Shaq's number when he played."
All things Scandinavian
And in the real Fargo, on any given night, folks at the Sons of Norway celebrate all things Scandinavian.
"Nobody has more fun than Norwegians," says one proud resident.
Really, what could be better than a fish buffet, a round of bingo, a little conversation and some accordion music.
"If you don't have a sense of humor up here, you don't last long," said Kristin Rudrud, who played the part of Jean Lundegaard, the kidnapped wife of the car salesman.
Rudrud, a real Fargo resident, showed up for the party in a chauffeured pickup truck and wearing a black blouse, black mini-skirt and huge winter boots.
Rudrud originally planned to attend the Academy Awards, but was asked by the moviemakers to come to the "Fargo" party instead.
"I'm much happier coming to this," she said. "This is huge. The Oscars are just the Oscars."
CNN Correspondent Sherri Sylvester and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Special section:
CNN Interactive's extended coverage
Related stories:
- Fans, red carpet, even chocolate Oscars: It's show time! - March 24, 1997
- Hollywood makes 'declaration of independents' - February 11, 1997
- List of nominations for the Academy Awards - February 11, 1997
- Independent films catching mainstream Hollywood's eye - January 11, 1997
- 'Fargo:' Another Coen brothers gem? - March 7, 1996
Related sites:
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
- The official Academy Awards Web site
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
- Movieweb - Fargo
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
Tell us what you think!
You said it...
© 1997 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.