Nomadland (Film)
7.5 /10 2 Votes
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Director Chloé Zhao Runtime 108 minutes Country United States Language English Writers Jessica Bruder, Chloé Zhao Aspect Ratio 2.39 : 1 Sound Mix Dolby Digital, IMAX 6-Track, DTS, Dolby Atmos Genre Drama Composer Ludovico Einaudi Budget $5 million Box office $4.8 million (As of 2021) Screenplay by Chloé Zhao Cinematography Joshua James Richards Edited by Chloé Zhao Distributed by Searchlight Pictures Based on Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century by Jessica Bruder Release Date September 11, 2020 (Venice), February 19, 2021 (United States) Production Co Searchlight Pictures, Highwayman Films, Hear/Say Productions, Cor Cordium Productions Cast Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, Linda May, Swankie Similar Promised Land (2012 film), Wild (2014 film), Lion (2016 film), | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Plot
NOMADLAND | Official Trailer | Searchlight Pictures
Nomadland tells us the story of Fern who loses her job after a US Gypsum plant in Empire, Nevada shuts down where she and her husband worked for years. The story takes place in the year 2011. After her husband’s recent death and the plant shut down, she decides to sell almost all her belongings to purchase a van to live in and travel the country at the same time searching for better prospects.
Linda, who is a friend and co-worker, of Fern invites her to visit a desert rendezvous organized by Bob Wells in Arizona. This program was intended to provide a much needed support system for fellow nomads. Fern was initially not very impressive of the idea and turns down the invitation at first. However, she changes her mind and decides to give it a shot as she find it very difficult to secure a job in the area. Luckily for her, at the rendezvous, Fern meets other fellow nomads and learns a lot about the self-sufficiency and basic survival skills for the road.
Once Fern's van blows a tire quite unexpectedly and she visits a nearby nomad’s van to ask for help. Her name was Swankie and even though at first she scolds Fern for not being prepared for the road life, she encourages her to learn more survival skills and they become good friends eventually. As it turns out to be, Swankie is a cancer patient with shortened life expectancy who has decided to spent the rest of her life on the road and make good memories rather than waste away in a hospital.
Fern later secures a job as a camp host in Badlands National Park, where she runs into another nomad David, who she has met at the desert community. When David falls ill and needs an emergency surgery, Fern visits him at the hospital. The two of them later take restaurant jobs together. It was then one night David’s son comes looking for him informing that David is going to be a grandfather and he need his father to bless his child. Even though David is reluctant at first, decides to go after Fern encourages him. Fern declines David’s invitation to come with him and they part their ways.
Now, Fern has a new job at a sugar beet processing plant. Unfortunately, her van breaks down one day, and she cannot afford the repairs. She decides to visit her sister's family at their home in California as she needed the money urgently. Her sister lends her the money. Fern later visits David and she is happy to know that he has decided to stay with them long-term. It was then David finally admits his feelings for Fern and invites her to stay with him forever in a guest house. However, Fern decides to leave after only a few days stay there.
Fern now revisits the Arizona rendezvous. There, she comes to know about the sad dismissal of Swankie . Fern and other nomads decided to pay tribute to her life. Fern meets Bob there and opens up about her loving relationship with her late husband. Bob also shares the story of his adult son's recent suicide. Bob declares that goodbyes are not final in the nomad community as they always promise to see each other "down the road."
Sometime later, Fern also pays a visit to Empire and the factory and the house she once shared with her husband before continuing her nomad life.
Review
Fern is undoubtedly the center of Chloé Zhao’s masterful creation “Nomadland”. You can say that it is a movie that attempts to find poetry in the life of otherwise seemingly average woman. One of the most attractive part of the film is how it captures the beauty of the country side in a dreamlike way. As audience one has to accept the fact that the story of the movie is beautifully grounded around a character we usually do not see in movies.
Fern is a woman who wants to be independent and that’s why she decides to go on a road trip after she has lost everything including her husband in the Empire city. She doesn’t think she needs to be saved, and Zhao makes sure the audience doesn’t feel sorry for her either. At the same time, Zhao also makes sure not to underestimate the loneliness and sadness her situation imparts on her and convey beautifully to the audience. This is why this movie has succeeded to earn its emotions, which come from genuine, deep, and honest empathy and has left a mark on the audience’s hearts.
