Directed by:
Chloé ZhaoScreenplay:
Chloé ZhaoCinematography:
Joshua James RichardsComposer:
Ludovico EinaudiCast:
Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, Linda May, Swankie, Bob Wells, Peter Spears, Cat Clifford, Tay Strathairn, Gay DeForest, Patricia Grier, Angela Reyes (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
Following the closure of a gypsum mine in the Nevada town she calls home, Fern (Frances McDormand) packs her van and sets off on the road in this "exquisite film" (Joe Morgenstern). Exploring an unconventional life as a modernday nomad, Fern discovers a resilience and resourcefulness unlike any she's known before. Along the way, she meets other nomads who become mentors in the vast landscape of the American West. From Searchlight Pictures, written for the screen and directed by Chloe Zhao, based on the book by Jessica Bruder, the film also stars David Strathairn and features real-life nomads Linda May, Swankie and Bob Wells. (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)
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Reviews (10)
Nomadland is one of those films where the sound is solid, the visuals are stunning, but the acting feels a bit indifferent. While watching, I found myself reflecting on American nomads. In contrast to the campfire songs we associate with freedom and relaxation, for these nomads, it’s more of a survival mechanism—a way for people on the fringes of society to escape urban life and find solitude. Frances McDormand, as always, delivers a great performance, but the truth is, there wasn’t much for her to really sink her teeth into.
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"What's remembered, lives." Nomadland, which combines elements of drama, road movie and a pseudo-documentary in a natural and non-violent way, tells the story of people whose lives seem adventurous and unbound at first glance, but on second look you feels their loneliness, rootlessness and sadness. It is a film about people who have chosen, or rather been forced to choose, a life on the move and with almost no solid ground under their feet. But even so, friendships or even deeper relationships can form between these "modern nomads". I was intrigued that alongside the professional actors, the film also features "naturals" who, together with the sometimes almost raw cinematography and locations, added to the film’s believability – thumbs up for the storylines with Swankie and Bob. As a result, the film hovers between three and four stars for me, but in this case I'll add extra one. PS: "See you down the road."
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American Film Academy awards have undergone significant changes in preferences over their long existence, which led to winning Oscars. There were times when Hollywood focused on major dramas about fundamental social issues and then times when studios preferred lavishly produced spectacles with significant commercial potential. Regardless of any trends that spread, the enduring notion of film fans about a winning Oscar film is directed towards an unmissable, visually appealing title that ideally has a societal impact and contains elements of higher culture. Simply put, it should be the film event of the year that can be used as advertising for the film industry and presented as a challenge to visit the movie theater. Nomadland fulfills none of that. I dare say that if Hollywood let a similar type of film win for another two or three years, it would condemn the Oscars competition to insignificance. The problem with the film does not lie in its intimate nature, and only partially in the fact that it lacks a significant plot. A film aimed at evoking empathy cannot function well if it is based on a distant, emotionally inaccessible protagonist who does not want or cannot live in a community, and establish and maintain new social relationships. The fundamental problem with Fern is not the death of her husband or her social poverty (she wasted more than a promising chance to start over), but the character's disposition. If my favorite Frances McDormand was not playing the main role, I would seriously consider giving it only two stars. Overall impression: 55%.
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Nomandland has come out of the festival circuit with the reputation of one of the best films of the year and a clear Oscar favourite, something that may generate expectations impossible to meet for some people. For me, it’s a very decent drama with a superb Frances McDormand, but I can’t say it stands out in any significant way from many other decent dramas. On the other hand, it’s clear that, in terms of social relevance, it will surely resonate more in the US than here. 7/10
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