Nomad land is a beautiful film. It’s simple, but admittedly the book hit me more with the realities and difficulties many faced after the recession of 2008.
The film chooses to focus on loss and the bereavement that comes with it. Some losses are greater than others, but the smaller losses don’t hurt any less.
Frances McDormand stars as Fern. Fern was a resident of Empire, Nevada until the entire city shut down. Her husband passed away before it shut down, so with seemingly no other option, she converts a van into her new living space. In it she travels all over the country, he temporary living situations determined by the seasonal jobs available.
A staple of Chloe Zhao is hiring people not trained as actors and with the exception of Frances McDormand and a few others, she does the same here. We meet some of the same nomads introduced in the book written by Jessica Bruder. These nomads give us a peek into the life of a nomad. These people have a tight knit community with each other, but they say goodbye to each other often depending on the jobs they take.
Zhao takes her time with each frame in the film. Each moment is savored and nothing is rushed. We are able to take in everything from the emotions being portrayed to the landscapes in the background.
Frances McDormand is fantastic as usual. She’s vulnerable, but able to put up her shield at a moment’s notice.
This film isn’t for everyone. There’s no action. There’s nothing exciting happening in the frame. It’s life. From the mundane to the simple pleasures that bring us joy, it’s meant to reflect real people. We’re meant to see ourselves even if we can’t directly relate to the characters’ experience.
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