Nomadland is a neo-western drama written and directed by Chinese-American filmmaker Chloé Zhao. The film premiered on September 11, 2020 at the 77th Venice International Film Festival, where it took home the prestigious “Golden Lion” prize. Meanwhile, at the 93rd Academy Awards, the film struck gold in the Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress categories; winning three out of the six nominations under its belt.
Though not winning these categories—Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing—the film still proved to be a major success.
The film is based on the 2017 novel “Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century” by American journalist Jessica Bruder. After losing her job at the US Gypsum plant in Empire, Nevada, Fern (Frances McDormand) purchases a van to live in and embarks on a journey through the American West as a modern-day nomad.
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The film’s emotional travelogue experience on screen proves Zhao to be one of Hollywood’s visionary filmmakers in recent times. Her stellar 2015 debut feature, the Native American-drama Songs My Brothers Taught Me, focuses on characters, the vast expanse of one’s environment, and the ability to grip emotions in a dramatic sense.
On the other hand, her 2017 sophomore feature The Rider is a contemporary Western drama which is a portrait of real-life Lakota rodeo riders in South Dakota and an examination of one’s passion for horse-back riding.
Nomadland continues the tradition of Zhao’s style and auteurist nature. The film excels with its beautiful landscapes that tremendously heighten the experience of a journey. Feeling like a travelogue documentary, the characters’ interactions and cinematography make it feel raw and authentic. It becomes more up close and personal, embracing the sounds of the environment and nature as complement.
Though one can argue that an emotional and dramatic score can be overused and cheap in some cases, the film carefully uses its music when it’s necessary. As it captures grief with an atmosphere of calm and contemplation, we get to observe and be still in silence. It utilizes the “show and don’t tell” technique pretty well.
Moreover, a poignant portrayal of grief and living life as a vagabond, McDormand’s heartfelt performance as Fern proved that her third Best Actress win was no fluke. She has previously won the first and second time for Fargo and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, respectively. McDormand’s range is very much present with the roles she has won the Academy Awards for. This time around, she owns the role of a woman way past her glory days, enjoying life as an exploration of what lies ahead.
A next stage in her life, Fern knows no limits when it comes to new experiences. But as she carries heavy baggage from losing a significant other, her silent moments speak loudly. There’s this wisdom that she also brings with her as someone who’s gone through so much in life.
The scene wherein Fern recites William Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 18” to an acquaintance she made when she asked for a cigarette is definitely one of the main highlights of the film.
Fern recites, “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, and summer’s lease hath all too short a date…” Together with beautiful scenery and Fern recalling her life through memories, this is a testament of the duo of Zhao and McDormand doing wonders.
In this pandemic-ridden world, this film reminds us to stay grounded and focus on the things that matter. We may walk in this journey alone, but there are moments in life wherein we walk with our memories and moments with people. In the film, Fern sells her belongings and sets out to travel and go far beyond what she can ever imagine.
We only live in this world temporarily, our lives fleeting and short. But the memories we treasure and keep, stay in our hearts forever.
Moving forward, Zhao ventures on a blockbuster scale with the forthcoming Eternals, set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Here’s to hoping she brings her magic to the world of superhero blockbusters and beyond.
Afraid of missing out this Oscar winner? Nomadland is available for streaming on Hulu.
