NOMADLAND REVIEW - SDIFF 2020

Chloe Zao’s Nomadland tells the story of Fern, a nomad, (played by Frances McDormand) as she free spirits her way through her new way of living, after the financial collapse of the Great Recession, and goes on a trip across several areas of the plain and the audience starts to become aware of what her true intentions are and why she chooses the life that she is living rather than anything else.

I saw Nomadland at the San Diego international Film Festival back in October and it was the opening night piece; suggesting that the festival believes in the strengths that it carries to have it presented as the first of the fest. And hearing rave responses from people who had seen it once again further suggested something special was about to grace my screen.

Firstly, it is a visual marvel. The cinematography screams with detail and richness through its sweeping wides that blast with color and depth that give the film an identity that feels unique to itself. One of the key details the cinematography gives us is the idea of being small and vulnerable in an otherwise huge and always changing landscape in particular within the perspective of Fern and her wanting to adjust and feel accepted within this lifestyle that she loves being in.

Secondly, the score is terrific. Ludovico Einaudi, who is a fantastic composer of his own beforehand, has created a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that gives a loner quality to the piece that wouldn’t have been made possible if the score didn’t present itself or was composed in the way that Ludovico saw it fit.

As I watched the film, listening and seeing the beauty that this story holds so deeply, as I left, I began saying that there was something that just didn’t register for myself. And what I had found was that I didn’t feel what it was that I just had experienced.

The biggest problem it has is that you feel rather distant to Fern and don’t have a complete tangible understanding as to what and how she feels about her given situation. After my viewing, I was able to form a better understanding as to what she represents and what her views are but those responses I wish were felt while watching it and not afterwards where I was trying to put some pieces together. Because this is an oddly quiet piece. And odd in that it has a fair amount of dialogue but the ideas of which make Fern are not laid out as comprehensively as I wanted it to be. Frances McDormand is clearly providing a lot towards this role and does earn most if not all of her moments but the issue lies in my connection to the character that makes it harder for me to care about what’s going on.

The other problems that it suffers is that the editing is very off-putting and kills a lot of the pacing throughout. Zao also served as her own editor and in terms of all her duties, this was her weakest easily. It doesn’t match well or compliment the style that it is being used for and just creates this really awkward pace that doesn’t lay out a proper foundation for what is ultimately a character study of a wanderer looking for some higher purpose and peace within her own life and troubles.

For what Nomadland tries to do, beyond its visual and composed elegancy, it gives the hint and the suggestion that there is a genius story just waiting to arrive to the service. And while there are many highs technically speaking and through a committed performance from Frances McDormand, the film ultimately spoke more on what it could have been to me rather than saying and showing what it is about. There is a great story to be told here. I just don’t think this was the best way to represent that story.

Grade: B