Food Abounding in Fargo
If You Went By The Food Alone, This Could Almost Be a Holiday Family Film
The Western world is now in the wonderful holiday season, and with it comes some of the most amazing of blessings. There are blessings in the form of times with family and friends and wonders in the form of special decorations, customs, and cultural and spiritual renewal. And of course, the blessings are coming in the form of fountains of food. We see these blessings thoroughly captured on the big screen, including delectable dishes placed in the spotlight. Some films’ attention to food could even make them seem like classic holiday family films. One such film where food almost takes on a central role is the 1996 epic horror film Fargo. While the film is in truth no nostalgic It’s a Wonderful Life or Home Alone, perhaps the attention given to food, family, and the triumph of good almost makes this horror film an unrealized addition to the list of classic holiday films. Let’s briefly explore some of the main eats and dishes from the award-winning film, even if watching it does not give viewers much appetite.
The Good Old Hearty Breakfast
In the Midwestern U.S., breakfast is always done right. Good old pancakes, eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy, and numerous other dishes. In the film, viewers are introduced to the pregnant sheriff Marge Gunderson waking up to a phone call in the wee morning hours. Her husband Norm wakes up to cook her one of those hearty Midwestern breakfasts. The meal includes the classics of eggs and bacon, a fulsome feast to satisfy his expecting wife.
To parallel, the kidnappers Carl Showalter and Gaear Grimsrud mention eating pancakes as they drive to the Twin Cities. However, viewers never see them eating. If they did indeed grab some good old-fashioned hotcakes made from scratch, then maybe adding some extra toppings like strawberries or blueberries would have kept them longer so they wouldn’t have been able to do as much crime.
Getting A Few Meals Worth At the Grand Buffet
What were some of the dishes that Norm and Marge could choose from at a local buffet restaurant? They had chicken and dumplings, chicken fricassee, fried torsk, broiled torsk, Swedish meatballs, and dozens of other dishes. This was enough to feed a whole family for several meals. Norm and Marge are enjoying their plates of food when a fellow cop comes with phone logs. Marge is happy to offer some fricassee. If anyone hasn’t heard of chicken fricassee, it is a wonderful dish with chicken, mushrooms, spices, and egg yolks.
To parallel, when we see Jerry Lundegaard return from his secret criminal scheming in Fargo to meet his wife Jean who is cutting and prepping vegetables for some dish. Maybe vegetable soup? Yet when Jerry, Jean, son Scotty, and Jean’s father Wade are shown eating, the camera shows the main course is burgers. Viewers are not able to see the whole meal and the characters do not even seem to pay much attention to its contents. Son Scotty leaves before he eats most foods, and Jerry seems too nervous to eat.
The Deeper Meaning of Food
What is the deeper meaning of food in Fargo? Well, there is plenty of food and eating going on. Norm and Marge are shown eating the most food. They always seem to enjoy their meal together, either in jovial banter or respectful quiet. They eat more than their fair share(and quite reasonably as Marge is eating for two). However, they are willing to share with others. This is so much like a happy, well-rounded family that gets together and shares food, gifts, love, and fun for the holidays. You don't have to bring the suckling pig or prepare filet mignons. Arby’s or a quick hearty breakfast will do.
In contrast, the only other person who works to cook and prepare extravagant meals is Jerry’s wife Jean Lundegaard. She prepares burgers and vegetable fry at the beginning and whips up a full breakfast for Jerry and Scotty before they start their day. But no one seems to appreciate her genuine touch and heart of gold. Perhaps one of the most gut-wrenching parts of the film is when Jerry comes home with paper bags of groceries as though he is the traditionally helpful and kind husband. Jerry knows all too well the horrendous plot that has unfolded, and all of the groceries are likely to go to waste.
But circling back to Norm and Marge Gunderson, we even see the couple cuddling in bed and snacking on chips and candy. This is where the deeper themes of family, food, and love shine through, triumphing over even the most horrific things. So, Fargo has many elements that could make it a solid family holiday film. You could skip the main horrific parts and focus on the chicken fricassee and full hearty Midwest breakfasts. Or you could just fast-forward to the scenes with Marge and Norm.
