"We don't need a true story to make a realistic film."”

Since the 1980s, countless souls have matured thanks to the journeys across the lands filled with both sublime joy and perverse misery depicted in the films of the Coen Brothers. These "locations" seem to have no time markers or specific place in the hearts of viewers; instead, they are constantly present in the mind, a true truth always found in the memories of generations. In each journey lasting just two hours, we step into the shoes of fictional characters on their karmic journeys, rolling through dark skies and barren cliffs, where evil is exposed and the truest instincts of humanity are revealed.

On a bleak, twilight afternoon in the desert, a white sedan pulls up at a roadside gas station, next to a solitary convenience store. Despite its proximity to a highway, not a sound is heard; everyone holds their breath as the large, dark-haired man enters the frame. The assassin Anton Chargugh isn't just interrogating the characters; he's also exploring where our souls can escape to in this empty world, a world of only him and dust.

This iconic scene is set at a real train station in New Mexico, from which the Coen brothers portray a sense of profound skepticism among those living in this world, a world with no refuge where only outlaws can find shelter.

In the novel,No Country For Old MenWritten by author Cormac McCarthy, the story is set in Texas, Mexico. The Coen brothers, however, relied heavily on filming locations in New Mexico and some in Texas. In the opening scene, viewers step into a world of crime as they walk across the vast sands with Llewelyn Moss and witness a bloody drug deal that fails. This scene was filmed in the West Texas desert, surrounding a town called Marfa, about 400 miles west of San Antonio.

However, unlike in the movies, Marfa is not full of danger and meager amenities; in fact, it is a place that inspires many artists, a place they seek to find peace and create their art.

Phoenix ArizonaWhile it's one of the early works of the Coen brothers' career, that doesn't mean this comedy doesn't meet the standards of a "typical Coen Brothers" film.

Many characteristics of Raising Arizona laid the groundwork for the later success of the two veteran directors. Some notable elements include the humorous, even absurd, nature of the love story between retired criminal Hi and former police officer Ed, along with the complex debate about right and wrong in modern society. However, perhaps the most distinctive feature is the vast and majestic desert landscape used to construct the film's world.

Raising Arizona was primarily filmed in Phoenix, the capital of Arizona. Surrounded by mountains and desert, Phoenix is ​​also known as Hoozdo, literally meaning 'hot place'.

Unlike the desolate desert in No Country For Old Men, the desert in Raising Arizona is both humorous and profound, bizarre yet beautiful. The beauty of the red rock mountains, the thorny cacti, and the peaceful little towns not only speaks to a moral spirit seemingly shaped decades ago (of the conscientious criminal Hi and the child-loving escaped convicts) but also portrays the evil that lurks and hides in our minds. But like all evil, the Coen brothers often criticize such actions through ridiculously comical imagery, even in a tense situation like this story.

In Arizona, there is a legend about a god named I'itoi who brought humans to Earth when he resided on the summit of Mount Baboquivari. From this, the ancestors of the Arizonans were divided into the Tohono O'odham (desert people) and Akimel O'odham (spring people). The god I'itoi is also known by the O'odhams as the Man in the Maze, a figure appearing in the labyrinths depicted on their seals, stone carvings, and personal belongings. This man symbolizes humanity's journey through the ups and downs of life; at the center of the labyrinth is the sun god, who will guide him to the better world beyond. The Man in the Maze symbol is also carved onto furniture and woven into baskets.

A journey filled with obstacles and ups and downs, offering valuable experiences and lessons along the way, so that upon reaching the destination they receive what they deserve – this is the very reason for the creation of film and the mission of filmmakers, and it is precisely what the Coen brothers have brought about and experienced throughout their careers. Along that path, our souls are filled with fictional stories that evoke incredibly genuine emotions, sometimes even to the point of extreme pain.

A rickety wooden horse-drawn carriage clattered stiffly in the cold air on a snow-covered mountain pass. Inside sat an old man with a frozen beard and a boy missing all four limbs. In reality, the carriage served as a mobile stage for the disabled boy's theatrical performances. As the carriage ascended higher into the mountains, the audience dwindled, despite the boy's exceptional monologue acting skills. One day, the old man decided to end the boy's superfluous life, having found another "talent" capable of attracting more attention: a counting chicken.

Meal TicketIt is a chapter in the movie.The Ballad of Buster ScruggsSet in Telluride, a small city nestled in the valleys of Box Canyon, Colorado, its location surrounded by mountains on all sides ensures residents enjoy breathtaking views from any vantage point. This is why Telluride is a "secret" destination for the elite to ski every Christmas.

Brainerd is immersed in a deep sleep, day and night. It's silent, its vast stretches of frozen lakes creating a scene untouched by human footsteps. Strangely, this frigid region of Minnesota is considered one of the happiest places to live in America.

To bring an absolutely freezing atmosphere to the visual experience, the Coen brothers chose several other locations in Minnesota, such as Brainerd and the Twin Cities. In contrast to the year-round icy conditions, the residents of Minnesota are known for their extremely friendly and polite nature.

Not only inupHollywood has also portrayed the distinctive character of Minnesotans in several other works that have garnered much love from audiences. A prime example is the character Marshall Erickson in How I Met Your Mother, who possesses a friendly and kind personality, much like Sheriff Marge and all the other characters living in Minnesota in Fargo. While there seems to be no scientific proof of why people from this region are considered so friendly and lovable, one thing is certain: Fargo has become one of the works that brought the sincerity of Minnesotans to the audience and has had a significant influence on cinema whenever it depicts a realistic Minnesota.

After a journey through the serene and tranquil beauty of America, the Coen brothers bring us to a final emotional high: contentment.

All Gold CanyonFilmed at Piney River Ranch, a location right next to the mountain range in Telluride for Meal Ticket, All Gold Canyon, however, is also filmed in Telluride but during the spring and summer. Summer here is known for its rolling hills of blue and white flowers, and wild deer slowly strolling across the lush green meadows.

The All Gold Canyon chapter of The Ballad of Buster Scruggs tells the story of a farmer's wisdom and perseverance in his quest to find a gold mine beneath the slopes of Pike Peak – a real gold mine discovered in 1858. After much hardship and mistakes, even when his life seemed to be ending, this unnamed old man – played by musician Tom Waits – ultimately manages to rise again and claim what he rightfully deserves. He also doesn't forget to thank the gods, nature, and the heavens for helping him find the gold mine.

Ethan Coen, one of Hollywood's two most veteran directing brothers, once said: they, and we, don't really need to witness a police officer suffering because of a heinous crime to understand just how chaotic and random life can be. Because when a story is told correctly, it lives in the hearts of each of us.

"We don't need a true story to make a realistic film."