Nomadland itself doesn't conform to traditional norms of cinematic narrative structure. Rather, Zhao unfolds her narrative in a quiet, meditative manner, letting the scenes play out naturally and without any intrusive John Williams' like music. When music does make its way into the film, it's done so in a subtle manner, fading serenly into the background like the pastoral, natural scenery that Zhao's camera unobstusively takes in. Zhao adapated Nomadland from a book by Jessica Bruder, which is the story of an elderly woman named Fern (Frances McDormand) who takes on a nomadic life on the road after the death of her husband.
Although Zhao herself is ethnically Chinese, Nomadland is an exploration of the American phenomenon of the CamperForce, a group of older, impoverished Americans working for Amazon warehouses. These elders aren't tied down to one location for their residence, and instead lead a roving lifestyle traveling from one location to another in RVs and vans. Although Frances McDormand is an established Hollywood actress, she completely embodies the more humble traits of her character, and blends seamlessly with the other mostly non-professional actors in Nomadland. Indeed, Zhao films Nomadland in an unobtrusive manner, letting her scenes play out naturally and giving her actors the space to fully inhabit their roles.
Much of Nomadland consists of Zhao's documentary-like explorations of the nomadic lifestyle of the CamperForce segment of American society, as we hear the stories of the lives of various elders and what drove them to abandon a more sedentary existence. Although there is much natural beauty in this roaming way of life, as the camera frames its various characters against the breathtaking scenery of the American Midwest, Zhao also explores the deeper grief and loneliness which is very much at the root of the CamperForce generation. This brings us to the question of what would draw a filmmaker from a Chinese background to explore such a particularly American lifestyle?
In Asian culture, there is much reverence for elders, as we respect the wisdom and knowledge they have gained throughout their lives. Many older Asians spend their lives surrounded by their family members, and they aren't thrown into isolation in senior housing in their golden years. Instead, it's common for older people in Asia to live with their adult children, or if they don't, then they are regularly visited by family members who take care of them on a regular basis. In the United States, when Americans become elders, they are often left to survive on their own without any family support. Thus, they feel isolated from both their own families and society.
It is this sense of dislocation which have led some American elders to seek out a sense of community with those of their own age in the CamperForce lifestyle which Nomadland explores. Because they are estranged from their own families and don't have a regular home they can reside in, the elders in Nomadland go on the road and are forced to travel and fend for themselves in a wider society which neglects them. It is this very Amerian concept of abandoning its elders that Zhao, an Asian filmmaker from a culture which actually looks after its older population, so sensitively explores in Nomadland.
Indeed, throughout Nomadland, Zhao uses her camera to portray the tragic stories of older Americans who have been let down by a society that should be taking care of them, as in the shock one character feels when she finds out how little money she receives from her Social Security fund. Another character finds out she has only a few months left to live, so without any family to turn to, she spends the remainder of her life traveling by herself. Essentially, Nomadland is Zhao's way of paying respect to and honoring the lives of a whole segment of the American population that has been thrown to the side as being disposable.
Near the last act of Nomadland, Zhao introduces the estranged son of one of the CamperForce members, and offers a story of redemption through the life of one particular family. This segment is a guidepost of sorts for Zhao to show how it's not too late for American society to change, as the son makes an effort to reach out to and take care of the elderly father who he has been distant towards for so long. If one family can change their ways and once again take care of an older American, then so can our whole society. This is a seemingly simple moral lesson, but one that makes Nomadland such an important and immensely moving film.
Good observations. I was sad for Americans, watching this. So precarious, to get old in this country if you aren't wealthy.
ReplyDeleteThank you...yes, I do hope that we as a society work better to take care of our elders, especially those who have financial problems. I am hopeful that we will implement societal improvements to address these issues, but we shall see.
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