Moose Lake.  One of the settings in the dark comedy Fargo (1996).  Moose Lake is a real place in the Arrowhead Region of Minnesota near Fargo, North Dakota.  It is considered a tourist spot for those that enjoy fishing and boating.  Using real geographic places lends authenticity to the “true story” genre of movie; this may have been one of the reasons the Coen Brothers chose such distinct geographical places.

In the movie Fargo (1996), two key scenes are placed at Moose Lake:  First, it is the place where the kidnappers Carl Showater and Gaear Grimsrud settle in with the kidnapped Jean Lundegaard in a cabin; they are waiting for the father of Jean, Wade Gustafson, to produce the money for the ransom.  Second, the movie moment that can be referred to as the “wood chipper scene” is placed at Moose Lake.  The pregnant police officer, Marge Gunderson, follows a tip and identifies the tan Ciera at the Moose Lake cabin.  She follows the noise of the wood chipper, and sees Gaear Grimsrud pushing Carl’s leg in the chipper.  Marge arrests Gaear, creating a resolution to the story.  In addition, the isolation and harsh weather of Moose Lake creates a dark and sometimes funny atmosphere for the movie Fargo (1996).

—Cecilia Dockins