Nomadland

Nomadland is a 2020 drama directed by Chloe Zhao, adapted from Jessica Bruder's 2017 nonfiction book Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century. It follows Fern, a woman in her sixties who, after the shutdown of the plant that employed her and her late husband in rural Nevada, sells most of her possessions, moves into a van, and travels through the American West taking seasonal work while finding community among other nomadic older Americans. Frances McDormand starred as Fern alongside David Strathairn, with several real life nomads including Linda May, Charlene Swankie and Bob Wells appearing as themselves. The film won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 2021 ceremony, along with Best Director for Zhao and Best Actress for McDormand.