I was very late to the Nomadland party, as this film has already won countless awards and critical acclaim. But I finally managed to see it, and now I can definitively say that this film absolutely deserved each and every award it won. That being said, I’m fully aware of the fact that this film won’t be for everyone. However, it was exactly the kind of movie that I love. A slice of life character study that lets you slowly discover a person’s story.
In this case, the person is Fern, played brilliantly by Frances McDormand. After her husband dies and the town they lived in goes extinct, she hits the road as a working nomad, living in her van. Along the way, she meets other nomads, all of whom have chosen this lifestyle for one reason or another. There’s really not much more to the plot in terms of action. But it does force you to think about these people that exist on the margins of society. Some are there by choice. Others by circumstance. And this film has a lot to say about both situations. It is definitely one of those movies that you’ll be thinking about long after the credits roll, which again, is exactly the type of film that I love.
I don’t know if I’ll be in a hurry to watch Nomadland again, but I’m happy that I finally did see it. Thankfully, it was one of the rare films that lived up to its hype, and it was an incredibly moving viewing experience as a result.
Suggestions for artists I should check out? Please contact me with your ideas. I hope you enjoyed your daily helping of art!