Film Review – Nomadland

With “Nomadland,” writer/director Chloe Zhao (“The Rider”) examines the rise of a subculture involving older Americans and their struggle with stability, experiencing the country on their own terms, getting away from economic and social demands, with many already painting themselves into corner while pursing a “traditional” life. The material originated in 2017 book by Jessica Bruder, and now Zhao hopes to bring it life for the screen, putting her faith in actress Frances McDormand (her first starring role since her Oscar-winning turn in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”) to realize the specific headspace of a woman trying to find her way after losing everything, in many ways preferring the distance a nomadic life offers. It’s a character study, providing a shapeless but searing look at the hustle and reflection of such an existence, highlighting an unusual movement happening within a pained country. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com