Abstract
Comfort is thus offered in Fargo-to some. The Coens subvert that comfort by making clear that the refuge of Brainerd is available only to those who participate in its normative vision. That normative vision grounds community in a uniformity that extends beyond what is required to preserve the community, such as conformity to its fundamental narrative, to neutral but noticeable traits such as appearance and racial heritage. The Coens offer no redemptive vision by which to transform Brainerd's exclusionary nomos. Marge, who combines keen intellect with sustaining humanity, is the most likely redemptive figure; but the woman who can face down a hulking multiple murderer with the backing of the community's nomos finds the individuality required to rescue Mike Yanagita poses too great a challenge. She cannot take the risk that her individuality would be mistaken for individualism in Brainerd, which apparently knows neither. As a result, those who are excluded because of difference are left with no place to go but to thefisolation of the world outside of it. However, Ethan Coen has assured us that the story-like a story his grandmother told of repelling criminal invasion by an outsider, which he repeats and then expertly deconstructs-only "pretends to be true."By means of the exotic homogeneity of their fictive Brainerd, the Coens modulate their disturbing message about its norms and its law. After all, this Brainerd is not real, so perhaps this Minneapolis is not real either. Comfort may still be found in Fargo.
Recommended Citation
Carriere, Jeanne L.
(2003)
"Cold Comfort: Law and Community in Ethan and Joel Coen's Fargo,"
Utah Law Review: Vol. 2003:
No.
2, Article 1.
Available at:
https://dc.law.utah.edu/ulr/vol2003/iss2/1