Nomadland (2020)

Nomadland (2020) is a quiet, meditative drama directed by Chloé Zhao and anchored by Frances McDormand’s understated, luminous performance as Fern, a woman in her sixties who loses her home after the collapse of a Nevada company town and chooses van life on the road. Traveling through the vast, wind-swept landscapes of the American West, Fern meets real-life nomads who share work, stories and small kindnesses; the film blends fiction and documentary elements to create an intimate portrait of people rebuilding lives outside conventional society. If you watch Nomadland you’ll experience a deliberate, slow-burning journey rather than plot-driven action: long, beautifully composed shots of deserts and highways, a sparse, naturalistic soundtrack, and quiet, emotionally resonant interactions. The tone is both elegiac and quietly hopeful — melancholic about loss and economic displacement yet full of moments of companionship, dignity and resilience. The result is immersive and reflective: you’ll feel the loneliness and freedom of life on the road, the tactile reality of small routines and seasonal work, and the human warmth that keeps these itinerant communities connected.

Actors: Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, Linda May

Director: Chloé Zhao

Runtime: 107 min

Genre: Drama

6.7 /10 87 /100 7.3 /10 7.6 /10