NOMADLAND

BY: Amanda Jane Stern

Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland centers around a woman named Fern (Frances McDormand), who, after losing her husband and her job, sells off her belongings and treks out across the American west in search of seasonal work, living out of her van. Mentoring Fern in her new lifestyle are real nomads Linda May, Swankie, and Bob Wells. 

Zhao based the film on Jessica Bruder’s 2017 non-fiction book Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century, which explores older American workers, affected by the Great Recession, who spend their lives travelling for temporary work. McDormand, who produced the movie along with Zhao, is one of only two professional actors in the nomadic cast, the other being David Strathairn. The rest of the main cast are played by real-life nomads who play a version of themselves. Zhao shot Nomadland over four months in 2018, with herself, McDormand, and the rest of the crew living out of their own vans while in production.

Nomadland was invited to screen at the Venice International Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, and the New York Film Festival. It screened simultaneously on September 11, 2020, at the Venice and Toronto film festivals and featured a virtual introduction by Zhao and McDormand. While the Telluride Festival was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, a special “Telluride from Los Angeles” drive-in screening of the film was held in Southern California. It was also the Centerpiece Selection for the New York Film Festival.

The film is still racking up recognition. It has been nominated for multiple Golden Globes, including Best Drama, Best Actress, and Best Director. McDormand has also been nominated for a SAG Award for her performance. The movie is heavily expected to receive multiple Oscar nominations. 

Nomadland was screened virtually by Film at Lincoln Center for one week starting on December 4, 2020. It was released in IMAX theaters on January 29, 2021. It will now be available in more theaters and on Hulu starting February 19, 2021.