Nomadland

Nomadland is one of those films where the sound is solid, the visuals are stunning, but the acting feels a bit indifferent. While watching, I found myself reflecting on American nomads. In contrast to the campfire songs we associate with freedom and relaxation, for these nomads, it’s more of a survival mechanism—a way for people on the fringes of society to escape urban life and find solitude. Frances McDormand, as always, delivers a great performance, but the truth is, there wasn’t much for her to really sink her teeth into. (20/03/2021)

"What's remembered, lives." Nomadland, which combines elements of drama, road movie and a pseudo-documentary in a natural and non-violent way, tells the story of people whose lives seem adventurous and unbound at first glance, but on second look you feels their loneliness, rootlessness and sadness. It is a film about people who have chosen, or rather been forced to choose, a life on the move and with almost no solid ground under their feet. But even so, friendships or even deeper relationships can form between these "modern nomads". I was intrigued that alongside the professional actors, the film also features "naturals" who, together with the sometimes almost raw cinematography and locations, added to the film’s believability – thumbs up for the storylines with Swankie and Bob. As a result, the film hovers between three and four stars for me, but in this case I'll add extra one. PS: "See you down the road." (01/03/2021)

An empathetically constructed carefree romp where everyone can find themselves at different spots. A little melancholic, a little contemplative, lots of thinking about death and the futility of human effort. And even though everything has already been more or less successfully explored in other independent works of self-discovery, Frances McDormand is so down-to-earth and "yours" that you have no defense, and with every solitary sunrise, she pricks your heart a little bit again. (26/03/2021)

Oscars, kiss my ass. I honestly don't understand how anyone at the Academy can be surprised that their viewing numbers keep dropping year after year when Best Picture is won by a film that no one in the general public has seen, and which normally would have been snubbed at all the film festivals. Granted, it's an interesting story with interesting people and Frances McDormand, who is perfect for such a role, but it's really sloppily shot. Trying to evoke a sense of being one with nature, a meditative atmosphere, or whatever, by slapping in some (otherwise beautiful) piano music by Einaudi, and stretching out the running time with five-second shots of cactuses, surrounding landscape, sunsets, et cetera? Meh... (01/01/2022)