A Nomad is defined as one without a home who freely travels without anything holding them back. The new film ‘Nomadland’ directed by Chloe Zhao examines an older generation that never achieved the American Dream. They have worked hard their whole life to discover they can’t afford to retire. They choose to live in their cars or vans and work seasonal jobs to make ends meet. ‘Nomadland’ delves into a country that discards its older workers that have no other choice but to survive on the fringes of society. ‘Nomadland’ is a beautiful and powerful film that will resonate with you long after exiting the theater.
A teenage girl asks the protagonist of the story, “My mom says that you’re homeless. Is that true?” The woman quips, “No, I’m not homeless. I’m just houseless.” The woman is Fern (Frances McDormand) that travels the breathtaking American landscape in her van. The film touches on how she lost her home in Nevada when a gypsum plant shut down during the recession. We find out that she is a widow. She drives to where the seasonal jobs are. She works a Christmas job at a massive Amazon warehouse packing boxes and moving them along for shipment. Other times, she works as a camp host at a national park, flipping burgers at Wall Drug in South Dakota and toiling in a beet factory.
Although this is a fictional story, many of the people that cross Fern’s life are actually nomads. One she befriends named Linda May invites her to Arizona. It is a gathering of like-minded individuals. Bob Wells is a guru of the nomad lifestyle. As they sit around a fire, he lectures to the community. He never complains about what he doesn’t have. The focus is on their freedom from the ‘tyranny of the dollar.’ Folks give tips on how to protect oneself on the road. Another person shows the best use of a bucket as a toilet. There is something magical about their plight. They don’t want your pity. They just want to live their remaining years with dignity.
The heart and soul of this film belongs to Frances McDormand’s brilliant performance. She gets lost in the role. Some of the most stunning moments are when she travels and walks through gorgeous panoramas. Her character Fern displays a fierce independence. She is no doubt a strong woman. She also keeps up a wall to the grief and loss she has experienced in her life. She lost her husband to an illness. You can see the loneliness on her face. She meets a fellow traveler Dave (David Strathairn) that might turn into a romance one day. You certainly hope Fern finds a new partner. The road can be a lonely and unforgiving place.
Set in modern times, ‘Nomaland’ captures the American imagination. The American West has always stood for the land of opportunity. The pioneers set out alone in their covered wagons along the rugged landscape. Some found their dream while others succumbed to its harsh realities. Chloe Zhao’s film is a testament to beauty and darkness of the American Dream. In a sense, it is an elegy to the dead. Everyone in some way is dealing with grief and loss in this masterwork. ‘Nomadland’ is an important and meditative film that must be experienced.
