Nomadland is an American drama film directed by Chloé Zhao. It stars Frances McDormand in the lead role and David Strathairn, Linda May, and Swankie in supporting roles and is now available on Hulu from 19th February 2021 to stream.
In 2011, Fern (Frances McDormand) loses her job after shutting down of the US Gypsum plant in Nevada, Empire. Her husband recently died and she used to work there for a year and now as nothing is left in Empire, Fern decides to move out of that area by selling most of her belongings and buys a van to live and travel across the country in search If jobs. She finally gets a job in Amazon fulfillment Center and befriends a co-worker Linda (Linda May) who tells her to join her at a meeting organized by Bob Wells, a van dweller himself. On this road to nowhere, Fern finds peace and happiness bonding with other nomads, old and young, who have their reason to set the road to find closure and completeness.
Based on the 2017 book Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century by Jessica Bruder and a screenplay by Chloé Zhao, Nomadland will touch your heart with its beautiful and pure emotions. It is just a human drama with no twist or zigzag moves in the narrative and tells more about the characters that keep coming frequently in the story, their story behind choosing this life, about their loss, and grief. The lead character Fern is surrounded by death and grief herself, with the plates she has that her father gave her, the ring she wears even now showing how close she was to her husband.
She tries to make the most out of every simple moment by enjoying them to the fullest. Her scenes with Linda and Swankie (also Swankie) are so natural and heartwarming, apart from touching your heart it pierces right through it. Swankie's track in the film is undeniably the most heartbreaking one, the way she describes that she is suffering from cancer, and instead of seeing the indoors of a hospital she wants to meet a man who is popular as Mr. Death. He has recipes of ways of how you can end your life if you want to.
The way she describes that she has seen some of the most beautiful things on the Earth and has no regret of how she has lived her life - it's moving and tear-jerking. She sends a video at the last and Fern says, "You made it Swankie". I can't hold my tears. Fern's life comes to life when she tries to interact with others, like with David (David Strathairn) or with her sister. Everyone she meets on the road, she bonds with them, she tries to live the moment, enjoy it. The peoples are also supportive and encouraging, devoid of any cunning or duplicity. Zhao has tried to say something through this journey, not showing any juicy scenes, and taking nonactors, and showing only what she wants.
What to say about Frances McDormand!! The way she portrayed Mildred, a mother, in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri in 2017, she was awarded the Oscars for Best Actress. Now the way she brings life to Fern in the film, she will be a strong contender for sure. The close-up shots focusing on the face of McDormand, tells a lot about what she's feeling from inside, even though she tries to be joyous and cheery but there's still a feeling of loss and broken. The wide shots of walking or even simply standing, she brings an authenticity to her role which is hard to overlook. David Strathairn, Linda May, and Swankie, and many other actors are there, they all have given their beautiful support here. Every performance is worth seeing.
The cinematography by Joshua James Richards is exceptional and beautiful just like the film. Winning hearts with his stunning camera work in The Rider and Songs My Brothers Taught Me, Joshua James has been familiar with capturing these long unending landscapes and he did wonderfully. The shaking camera work, whether it's close up or wide, is visually stunning. The production design also by Joshua James Richards is good. The music by Ludovico Einaudi fills every gap in the film and has some impressive tunes that are equally touching. The editing by Chloé Zhao is perfect.
Nomadland by Chloé Zhao is extraordinarily heartwarming and hard-hitting at the same time. Zhao's this film is about death and grief and for those who are feeling lost. But she tries not to cross the threshold while handling such serious topics otherwise it could've been a sad, depressing film. It is sad, but it is also full of hope and positivity, as Bob Wells says in one scene, "one of the things I love most about this life is that there is no final goodbye. I'll always just say I'll see you down the road". There's a lot to say about this masterpiece but I'll end here. Watch it for Frances McDormand and Chloé Zhao's poignant storytelling.
Rating:- 4.5/5
Now streaming on Hulu.
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