About Nomadland

Nomadland is an American film released in 2021. Based on the 2017 non-fiction book "Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century" by Jessica Bruder, the film closely follows the life of a woman named Fern. After losing her job and her home in a small Nevada town, she embarks on a journey across the American West, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad.

Making / Production

Directed by Chloe Zhao, Nomadland was largely filmed on location in the American West. The film imbues a documentary-like quality with the inclusion of real-life nomads playing fictionalized versions of themselves.

Actors

• Frances McDormand plays as Fern, bringing a raw and tender portrayal to a woman adjusting to the nomadic life.
• David Strathairn as Dave, delivers a subtle performance of a fellow nomad who becomes friends with Fern.
• Many non-actors gave genuine performances as themselves, such as Linda May, Charlene Swankie and Bob Wells.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Most of the film was shot using natural light, to maintain its raw and authentic aesthetic.
• The majority of the characters in the film are played by real-life nomads.
• Frances McDormand genuinely blended into the nomadic lifestyle during the shooting, which involved real work, such as cleaning toilets.

Awards

Nomadland has been a phenomenal success on the awards circuit. The film won the best picture, and Chloe Zhao won best director at the 93rd Academy Awards. Most notably, Frances McDormand received critical acclaim for her performance, bagging the Best Actress at the Oscars.

Quotes

• "I'm not homeless, but just houseless. Not the same thing, right?" - Fern
• "You know, my mom says that you're homeless. Is that true?" "No, I'm not homeless. I'm just... houseless. Not the same thing, right?" - Kid and Fern
• "My dad used to say, 'What's remembered, lives.' I maybe spent too much of my life just remembering." - Fern

Music, Soundtrack

• The musical score is just as vibrant and authentic as the film. It was composed by the talented Ludovico Einaudi.
• His soundtrack perfectly complements the film's themes of loss, love, and the American landscape.
• Songs such as "Einaudi: Oltremare", "Einaudi: A Sense of Place" and "Einaudi: Low Mist Var. 1 - Day 1" feature prominently.