Fargo

Minnesota and North Dakota, winter 1987. Jerry Lundegaard sells cars, is deep in debt and hires two men to kidnap his wife: his father-in-law will pay the ransom and he will keep half the money. The plan falls apart almost immediately and leaves three bodies on a snowbound road. The investigation goes to Marge Gunderson, chief of police in Brainerd, seven months pregnant, who works with calm method while everyone around her flails. The film opens by saying it is based on a true story, and it is not: the Coens made that up. In 1997 it won two Oscars, best actress for Frances McDormand and best original screenplay.