Character relationships

Relationship between Fern and Dave

The relationship between Fern and Dave is an important element in the movie Nomadland directed by Chloé Zhao, as it tells a lot about the two characters and their personalities. 

Dave and Fern seem to have a lot in common. They are both living a nomadic lifestyle, sleeping in their vans and taking up seasonal work whenever they can. However, Dave has been doing this for a long time, while Fern is still new to this lifestyle and still in need of guidance on how to manage on the road. As well as this, they have both suffered the loss of their spouse, although Dave also has a son, while Fern is childless.

Dave is friendly to Fern from the start. He is naturally open to people; therefore he accepts Fern easily. Fern, on the other hand, is more reserved. Still, the two of them seem to get on well with each other from the start. Dave offers Fern advice on which of his can openers is better and Fern offers him a pot holder in return (00:26:08-00:26:11). 

It is clear that Dave is attracted to Fern and feels a connection with her. When they are at a bar during the first Rubber Tramps Rendezvous that Fern attends, Dave asks her to dance (00:29:20). He is quick to renew their connection when they meet again at Cedar Pass Camp, and likes to spend time with her. While the two of them are working together at the restaurant, they do a lot of activities together and seem to have a great time.

Dave is also protective of Fern. For example, he does not want her to walk into town at night just for cigarettes and buys her licorice sticks so Fern can chew on them if she feels the urge to smoke but does not have cigarettes. He also tries to help Fern organize her van when she has an ant infestation, but ends up breaking the plates Fern has from her father, which angers Fern a...