After losing everything in the Great Recession, Fern (played by Frances McDormand), an independent and hardworking woman, embarks on a journey through the American frontier in her van to live as a modern day nomad in the drama film Nomadland, directed by Chloé Zhao. 

Fern is bound by nothing and bound for everything as she travels while working short stints at part time jobs like at Amazon warehouses and as a fry cook. While Fern travels, she also mourns the death of her husband and the loss of her community, which she was forced to part with when a company shut down. While traveling through scenic landscapes and various RV parks around the country, she meets friends that she shares strong emotional bonds with, like Dave and Swankie.

Nomadland is a unique film and also proves how successful a film can be when it combines great actors, an interesting plot, and utterly stunning cinematography. Frances McDormand embodies her nomadic character so easily, making it seem like she was made to play Fern. Nomadland is largely a movie centered around landscape and environment, with the plot of the movie following this. Fern not only finds herself, her passion and her grief through traveling through America’s frontier, but she also finds a community of like-minded people with the same ambitions as her.

The movie was awarded several Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, among others. Director Chloé Zhao made Oscars history by becoming the first woman of color and first Chinese woman to win the Oscar for best director. I could not recommend this film more if you enjoy a movie centered around beautiful cinematography and strong friendships.