Chloe Zhao’s first film following her breakout hit, The Rider, won’t be Marvel’s Eternals. It will be the likely awards-contending drama, Nomadland, which will be hitting the festival circuit hard in the coming weeks. The film arrives at a time when people will be able to connect with its premise of a woman who basically chooses to go off the grid after an economic collapse.
Two-time Oscar winner Frances McDormand stars as Fern, who journeys through life as a modern-day nomad. She’s joined in the cast by Oscar nominee David Strathairn, along with people who have made a similar decision in life. Zhao was not only behind the camera, but she wrote the script, edited, and produced.
Nomadland opens December 4th, but will have its world premiere at Venice and TIFF on September 11th.
SYNOPSIS: Following the economic collapse of a company town in rural Nevada, Fern (Frances McDormand) packs her van and sets off on the road exploring a life outside of conventional society as a modern-day nomad. The third feature film from director Chloé Zhao, NOMADLAND features real nomads Linda May, Swankie and Bob Wells as Fern’s mentors and comrades in her exploration through the vast landscape of the American West.
