Analysis

The movie Nomadland directed by Chloé Zhao is based on the non-fiction book Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century by Jessica Bruder. The film follows the journeys of a woman who lives in her van, following the death of her husband and the closing of the company town where she lived and worked. The story addresses the complex situations of elderly Americans who take up van-dwelling and seasonal work following the Great Recession, while tackling important themes such as freedom, loss, and community.

The movie has an unconventional structure. It is not divided into acts, and, while it does present a series of chronological events, it cannot be said to have notable narrative points such as a climax or even much conflict and tension. The plot is, therefore, more character-driven than action-driven.

The main character is Fern, who used to live in the company town of Empire, Nebraska, and starts traveling through the US in a van and taking up seasonal jobs. Fern is notable for her desire for freedom and independence as well as for her love of being on the road. Other characters are seen through her eyes. Her friends, Linda May, Swankie, and Dave all share the same lifestyle as she does and mostly understand her choices. Her sister, Dolly is the opposite of Fern and does not really understand her flighty lifestyle. The relationships between these characters and Fern are interesting to observe.

The movie does not have a fixed setting, focusing instead on a series of locations in the United States. Of these, most notable are the town of Empire, in Nevada, Quartzsite, Arizona, where the annual gathering of van-dwellers takes place, and Badlands National Parks, where Fern works for an entire summer. 

The choice of cinematic devices enhances the audience’s experience, immersing them in the story. The shots and camera angles highlight the sensation of being always on the road and make the movie feel realistic. The lack of non-diegetic sounds and music for the most part of the film is also notable as it tries to add to the realism of the story.

The movie makes use of several symbols and motifs. Vanguard, Fern’s van, is particularly important as her symbolic home. The motif of constantly being on the road adds complex layers to the main character’s nomadic lifestyle.

You can read a more detailed analysis in the following pages.