Film No. 83 (2020) December 28th. 4:00 PM. Cinema 1 LUNA Leederville.
"No, I'm not homeless I'm just houseless, not the same thing right?".(Fern explains her predicament to a close friend's child she has taken a liking to).
This slice of American life called Nomadland is no easy watch, but it is certainly captivating and highly relevant to our times. The U.S. of A is a declining empire in the eyes of many and Nomadland paints yet another picture reflecting that decline.
Frances McDormand plays Fern and there isn't a scene shot without her. She and David Strathairn (Dave) ply their craft as actors amongst amateurs living the life Fern has only recently been forced into. The naturalism captured in Nomadland by Chloe Zhao (The Rider) takes us on a year long road trip with a grieving central character who is rudderless after the loss of her husband, home and income all within months.
Zhao's backdrops of incredible scenery give Fern's journey solid grounding as she wends her way from one menial seasonal job to another. Fern, is a good person, ready to help her new "road friends" in a thrice. This new lonely life is growing on her but there is a test along the way. It comes in the form of Dave (Strathairn). It's a low key, undramatic test; but she'll need to make a decision.
Perhaps the real stars of this film are the everyday folk who come with no acting craft but with plenty of life skills and experience. Fern's new mates Gay, Linda, Carl and Doug (along with many others) play themselves. it's here that McDormand's Fern gains her legitimacy.
The story of how ordinary people living an alternative life mixing it with acting royalty would be a fascinating tale in itself. 11GUMS.
No comments:
Post a Comment