*Backlog* Reviewing "Nomadland": An introspective journey of a nomad American

Nomadland is directed by Chloe Zhao and starring Frances McDormand. McDormand plays Fern, a woman who was laid off when the company she was working for collapsed. Fern has taken to traveling around the US in a van which serves as her home.

The film is suitably melancholic. Don't get me wrong, it's not really a film depicting tragedy, it just has a strangely downbeat atmosphere about it, a sobering yet affirming glimpse into little vignettes of Fern's life as a nomad. We get to see Fern traveling around in her van, meeting the nomads as we gradually realize that she is looking for something in her life that could anchor her after her husband's death and being laid off. 

This is a very emotionally driven and character driven film, with the entire plot hinging on Fern's interactions with the various figures she meets on her journey, and the emotions that are roused from those interactions. At one point in the film, Fern meets up with her sister and she opens up to her sister about how she feels. At another point in the film, a nomad who has returned home invites her to stay with him, and it's clear that while she wants to, she just isn't ready to stop and stay, because of the hurt she has experienced in her life.

Frances McDormand is a true standout actress and this film shows that completely. She just has such a presence that is positively magnetic it's indescribable, even when she is doing nothing and just slowly sorting through items in her van, you completely empathize with Fern's character and you desperately want to see her be fulfilled in her life. Indeed, even in the face of a seemingly lonely lifestyle, she is content. "No, I'm not homeless. I'm just house-less," Fern says at one point.

The other actors are also great in their roles, made even more amazing by the fact that most of them are not professional actors, but nomads who acted in this film, generally playing themselves. This helps with the naturalistic style and shows the genuine life of nomads without excessive artifice, showing them as exactly who they are: regular people living differently in their own ways, not holding onto houses, and instead traveling around with only their dearest possessions.

The cinematography is great, with the perfect lighting to make this a truly beautiful film to look at, and the colors in certain scenes help get across to the audience Fern's particular mood in that scene.

Chloe Zhao is a brilliant director. This is only her third film, but this, and her first two films, are quickly propelling her to great heights, with Nomadland getting her the Best Director win for the 93rd Academy Awards. Zhao shows herself to be a master of a naturalistic filmmaking style that makes everything feel real and natural, like the viewer is getting a glance at a part of the lives of these real people. It's honestly amazing.

The film puts a spotlight on the nomads in America, on their philosophies, their various reasons for taking up the nomad lifestyle, and the result is a beautiful, poignant film with excellent performances and direction. A truly unique and powerful film.

Score: 10/10