Even before the announcement of the Academy, Nomadland had been claimed the best movie of the year. Gaining praise and popularity from its use of real nomads to just the overall structure of the film. But does Nomadland really deserve all the hype? Here, we’ll take a deep dive into this admired road film. -- Piper Stuip, 7th grade
Nomadland follows Fern, (Frances McDormand) a woman in her 60’s who lost everything in the great recession. She had lived happily in Empire, Nevada in one of those small towns built around industry with her husband, until it was all ripped away from her.
When the industry closed, Empire closed with it. In this tragic event, Fern’s husband passed, leaving her all alone and homeless—although she prefers the word “houseless.” In her grief, she embarks on a life on the road, living in her van with the few belongings she could keep.
Fern hops between work, becoming a seasonal worker at Amazon (which did have a portrayal that earned a lot of backlash—we’ll talk about later), eventually, she becomes involved with a group of fellow nomads, that her friend and real nomad Linda May had introduced her to. The group had been a community of sorts that gathered together annually. But, inevitably, Fern eventually ends up alone again.
Nomadland, directed by Chloe Zhao and based on the book by Jessica Bruder, is a film that tells Ferns story in a way that is lovely, intriguing, but also very tragic.
When the industry closed, Empire closed with it. In this tragic event, Fern’s husband passed, leaving her all alone and homeless—although she prefers the word “houseless.” In her grief, she embarks on a life on the road, living in her van with the few belongings she could keep.
Fern hops between work, becoming a seasonal worker at Amazon (which did have a portrayal that earned a lot of backlash—we’ll talk about later), eventually, she becomes involved with a group of fellow nomads, that her friend and real nomad Linda May had introduced her to. The group had been a community of sorts that gathered together annually. But, inevitably, Fern eventually ends up alone again.
Nomadland, directed by Chloe Zhao and based on the book by Jessica Bruder, is a film that tells Ferns story in a way that is lovely, intriguing, but also very tragic.
Fern is portrayed in an interesting way. She is haunted by a constant feeling of grief, but it also seems that she isn’t trying to heal from the death of her husband or any of the other awful things that happened to her. It makes her hard to have sympathy for her.
One of the most notable reasons people love Nomadland so much, as said, is the use of real nomads, playing fictionalized versions of themselves.
A few of these non-actors include Linda May, a nomadic grandma; and Bob Wells, a real life vandweller, Youtuber, and president of the homes on wheels alliance. And of course, the most popular of the three, Swankie.
Charlene Swankie had been on the road for ten years in 2018 when Zhao approached her asking if she'd be in her film. She never imagined she’d be picked up by Hollywood to play a fictional counterpart of herself, who strikes up a friendship with Fern, before making her way up to Alaska to die, after being told by doctors that she had less than a year to live.
But the experience was good for Charlene, “I felt more love from Fran and Chloe and the film crew than I felt from my own biological family, I can never really show my gratitude for that,” Swankie says in an interview with Variety.
Nomadland hosting real nomads for their film was a unique thing. Having non-actors in film is something that hasn’t happened often. It’s interesting to see the portrayal of a character by someone who has experienced their character's life.
One of the most notable reasons people love Nomadland so much, as said, is the use of real nomads, playing fictionalized versions of themselves.
A few of these non-actors include Linda May, a nomadic grandma; and Bob Wells, a real life vandweller, Youtuber, and president of the homes on wheels alliance. And of course, the most popular of the three, Swankie.
Charlene Swankie had been on the road for ten years in 2018 when Zhao approached her asking if she'd be in her film. She never imagined she’d be picked up by Hollywood to play a fictional counterpart of herself, who strikes up a friendship with Fern, before making her way up to Alaska to die, after being told by doctors that she had less than a year to live.
But the experience was good for Charlene, “I felt more love from Fran and Chloe and the film crew than I felt from my own biological family, I can never really show my gratitude for that,” Swankie says in an interview with Variety.
Nomadland hosting real nomads for their film was a unique thing. Having non-actors in film is something that hasn’t happened often. It’s interesting to see the portrayal of a character by someone who has experienced their character's life.
Most of Nomadland’s attention has been positive, rightfully so, as it is beautiful, intriguing, and unique. It’s a new and exciting kind of movie. However, the film does have its flaws, one in particular is notable. The Amazon warehouse scenes.
Work in Amazon warehouses is awful. They treat their workers terribly, the work is harsh and has led to severe injuries for many, and many tragic events—including death—have happened.
It’s not even just the Amazon workplaces that have hurt nomads. While being hosts at campgrounds in California, Linda May broke a rib when bear-proofing a dumpster and Swankie cracked THREE ribs in her time hosting at a camp in the rockies. People have even died in these kinds of workplaces.
And Nomadland definitely misrepresented Amazon. Glorified it, even.
Overall though, putting the harmful glamorizing of these plug in and labor work sites aside, I personally loved Nomadland. Although it was depressing, and I don’t think it’s something I’d watch again, it was a really interesting film, the idea that home is not always a place is portrayed heavily used in this movie, and although it's a popular trope, it's portrayed in a different way here.
Work in Amazon warehouses is awful. They treat their workers terribly, the work is harsh and has led to severe injuries for many, and many tragic events—including death—have happened.
It’s not even just the Amazon workplaces that have hurt nomads. While being hosts at campgrounds in California, Linda May broke a rib when bear-proofing a dumpster and Swankie cracked THREE ribs in her time hosting at a camp in the rockies. People have even died in these kinds of workplaces.
And Nomadland definitely misrepresented Amazon. Glorified it, even.
Overall though, putting the harmful glamorizing of these plug in and labor work sites aside, I personally loved Nomadland. Although it was depressing, and I don’t think it’s something I’d watch again, it was a really interesting film, the idea that home is not always a place is portrayed heavily used in this movie, and although it's a popular trope, it's portrayed in a different way here.
Chloe Zhao accepting Nomadlands awards for best picture and directing:
