Nomadland (2020) Movie Review
Nomadland is the third feature film from director Chloé Zhao. Zhao has quickly made a name for herself with beautifully shot films that tell quiet, understated stories. Nomadland doesn’t depart from this trend. Fern (Frances McDormand) lives in a van, moves from place to place as she pleases, and works seasonal jobs to make enough money to live. We see her work at an Amazon warehouse, a beet farm, and a national park. These odd jobs are filled with a few friends like Linda, Swanky, and Dave and just as many strangers who cross paths with Fern for moments at a time.
The strength of Nomadland lies in Zhao’s ability to capture quiet moments without feeling like the camera is intruding. Much of the movie involves nomads like Fern musing about the meaning of life. There’s a touching story of a man who died one week before his retirement. His lifelong dream was to go sailing and he died with his sailboat still parked in his driveway. The woman telling the story explains her nomadic lifestyle by saying, “I didn’t want to die with my sailboat still parked in the driveway.” It’s these tiny moments and conversations that make the movie worth watching. Zhao captures countless contemplative moments and lets you decide how you’d like to interpret them.
Many of these moments involve no dialogue at all as Fern explores some of the most beautiful parts of the United States. The cinematography does an excellent job of showcasing the remarkable scenery. Zhao’s frequent collaborator Joshua James Richards makes his mark as he captures the wide open spaces of the U.S. and through the screen shows us why Fern doesn’t want to be sequestered to the suburbs or a cubicle.
Despite the beauty, it’s not all roses and butterflies as a nomad and Zhao makes sure to capture that as well. Fern has to shit in a bucket in the middle of her van and Zhao captures it with little fanfare. She also has issues with her van constantly from flat tires to more serious issues with the engine. At one point she goes home to visit her sister and we see Fern out of place in suburbia. Zhao captures how uncomfortable Fern is and it’s clear how confined her life is when she’s living “normally.” These contrasting scenes exemplify Fern’s characteristics and give a broader picture of who she is and why the nomadic lifestyle calls to her.
The story is a simple one. There are no explosions or dramatic visual effects. But Zhao proves that she doesn’t need all that to have a massive impact. She’s helped immensely by the legend herself, Frances McDormand. She proves that she is an unstoppable acting force. Her tough exterior masks her more gentle nature and her face registers every minute emotion, and Zhao each captures with ease. The supporting cast is comprised largely of real life nomads who play a loosely based version of themselves. As you might expect, this gives a heavy dose of reality that you might not have gotten had Zhao used actors to portray these nomads.
Zhao captures a beautiful story with a protagonist at the center who doesn’t fit into the boundaries created by society. Throughout the movie I found myself pondering what sort of life I wanted to lead and why. Zhao doesn’t force any one way of living on you, but merely gives you a peak at how Fern lives and why it appeals to her. I was engrossed by the beauty of the movie. The quiet stillness of the landscapes provided a respite from the chaotic world we’re living in now. Zhao has truly crafted a wonderful film with Nomadland.
Film or Movie: Film
You’ll like this film if:
1. You liked Zhao’s previous film, The Rider
2. You want a contemplative movie
3. You’re interested in exploring alternative lifestyles
