This is an adaptation of the documentary novel by Jessica Bruder “Land of the Nomads: Survive in America of the XXI century”, and the director was chosen by the lead actress and at the same time one of the producers of the film Francis McDormand.
The main character Fern lived all her life with her husband in the small town of Empire, where they both worked, he - at the city-forming enterprise for the production of drywall boards, she partly there, as well as other jobs. But the husband fell ill and died, the demand for stoves fell, in connection with which the enterprise was closed, people had nowhere to work and they left who went where. Fern held on to the last thing, eventually she left, and she sold some of her belongings and bought herself an old van, in which she began to live. It was difficult to find a permanent job, so she worked part-time in the winter in Amazon, when the flow of parcels increased there, and at other times - where she had to. There in Amazon, she met Linda, who invited her to a rendezvous in the desert in Arizona, organized annually by Bob Wells, who helps people like Fern, and there are quite a few of them, to survive in nomadic conditions and provide them with moral support. The contingent there is mostly elderly, each person had his own dramas and tragedies, because such a life does not live prosperous people. At first she refuses, but then comes, there she meets some people who later become her friends, including Dave, with whom they form a friendship that could grow into a closer relationship, but Fern can not let go of his past from himself. She meets the nomads again and talks to Bob, who talks about himself, and he talks about why he did it, he also had his own tragedy. Nomads never say goodbye forever, they always promise to see each other in the future and really meet again. Fern continues her wanderings, but before that, she visits her abandoned city of Empire to give away the remaining items in the warehouse, saying goodbye to them and her home.
This is such a classic road movie without a pronounced plot, it is just a series of episodes from Fern’s life, well shot against the background of roads, in the places of her work and among the rather strict desert and mountainous landscapes. Francis McDormand is very organic in this role, but she plays well everywhere. It must be said that the film starred real nomads in the role of themselves and under their own names, including Bob Wells, who organized a charitable society that helps people in need to purchase vehicles for living and traveling. That is what the Americans will not deny, is the ability to organize such a community, I do not see this in us, frankly, I do not know how in Russia and other countries. I liked the movie. A movie where I didn’t see any negative characters. He has already received many awards at various festivals, and is now nominated in several categories and for an Oscar.
