Wednesday 9 June 2021

Nomadland

 A comment from 27th May

I think it would be helpful if people went and saw the film "Nomadland". People bought houses when they were affordable for people on modest incomes, jobs were secure in a way they are no longer and though people say 'they paid their taxes' there was tax relief on mortgages. Described as a 'middle class perk' by Gordon Brown when he abolished it. The house buying generation of the 1970's and 1980's would be wise to remember this. 

I read this comment and thought "slightly barbed? .......OK then, I'll go and see it"

 So I took myself off to the newly re-furbished Regal in Stowmarket. Owned by the council it's been closed for over a year for a huge building project. And now  the place we all used to hang-out every Saturday night in the late 60's has turned into a fantastic 3 screen theatre/cinema.

What did I think of the film? It was good even though nothing much happened. However it  isn't totally about people who can't afford a home - true, many of the Nomad community living in the vans/caravans have lost their homes for whatever reason. But some have chosen this way of life as a way of escaping their past.
 
Fern, the main character played by Francis McDormand (who is also one of the producers) had lived and worked in Empire, Nevada a desert town where everyone worked at the US Gypsum factory. When the factory closes and Ferns husband dies she leaves what has now become a ghost town to live and travel in her van.
 
Many of the characters in the film really are part of the Nomad community and play slightly fictional versions of themselves which is interesting. Including Bob Wells  a Youtuber and author.

Fern is able to pick up temporary work (who knew that Amazon have taken advantage of Nomads by setting up a campsite for them by their Texas fulfillment centre and employ many of them in the pre-Christmas rush). 
 She twice has the chance to stay in houses for a while - once with her sister and again with a fellow van-dweller who has gone back to his family, but each time she's unable to settle and set's out on the road again. 
 goodbyes are not final in the nomad community as its members always promise to see each other again "down the road."



The film is based on the 2017 Non-Fiction book by Jessica Bruder..... described thus................
From the beet fields of North Dakota to the campgrounds of California to Amazon's CamperForce program in Texas, employers have discovered a new, low-cost labour pool, made up largely of transient older adults. These invisible casualties of the Great Recession have taken to the road by the tens of thousands in RVs and modified vans, forming a growing community of nomads. 'Nomadland' tells a revelatory tale of the dark underbelly of the American economy - one which foreshadows the precarious future that may await many more of us. At the same time, it celebrates the exceptional resilience and creativity of people who have given up ordinary rooted-ness to survive, but have not given up hope.


My Conclusion:- It won loads of awards but I'm not sure why although I did enjoy it and the 2 hours went by quickly. It's very American...............obviously!
 
I've got the book on order from the library - it's been republished because of the interest in the film. 

Back Tomorrow
Sue


 

23 comments:

  1. The cinematography and scenery are superb. It is beautifully produced and should certainly provoke quiet reflection on the many US citizens who have chosen to lead this way of life and who are largely forgotten.
    I can see why it won all the awards. Go and see it on a big screen and support your cinemas!

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    1. I did go and see it at a cinema! that's what the review is all about!
      If you are instructing my other readers to go and see it, that's really not what my blog is for.

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    2. Always nice to pass on thoughts though be they positive or negative and no, I was not 'instructing' readers to go and see it. Of course I realised that you saw it on a big screen.

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  2. Same as I felt about it. I wrote it up but in fewer words! I liked the sugar beet factory!

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    1. It looked blinkin' cold in the places she worked.

      I'm hopeless at reviews which is why I end up copying whole bits from other places!

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    2. I am brief with my film reports these days, too much responsibility I found when films I didn't enjoy very much led to responses from people saying they wouldn't go on the basis of what I said. That wasn't what I wanted at all. I now make fairly tame remarks but readers do tend to cling on to every word whether you like it or not I take the view that if they want to read more about a film they will Google it, or with a film like Nomadland, probably know about it already anyway.

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  3. I imagine that you get a better impression of "the Big Country" on the big screen. I notice your phrase "Amazon have taken advantage of..." and find myself wondering what happens to the people on the campsite when the company isn't employing them? I'm increasingly concerned about people caught up in 'the gig economy' Thanks for the review. I'll check out the book. Not sure I fancy going to the cinema just yet!

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    1. They know they are only working for a short period so set off elsewhere when their job is finished. In the film she finds work in many places - doubt it would be so easy here

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  4. Sounds worth catching. Don't even know where our nearest cinema is, now we have relocated. (Checked: Brecon or Abergavenny. The one in town doesn't appear to be functioning any more).

    Where we used to live in Wales, there were lots of alternative dwellers - not travelling campervan type people, but what started off as hippy communities in the 70s - Teepee valley is the main one. Other folks living off-grid in low impact dwellings too, or like Brithdir Mawr, an off-grid community on what used to be a little Welsh farm. https://lammas.org.uk/en/links/

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    1. I was quite excited to go and see what they'd done to the Regal and pleased they managed to keep it open and in use for the future. Of course lots of people moaned the council should have spent the money elsewhere!

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  5. I've got it tucked away in Audible for listening to. Sort of tail end of the commune era maybe? Throwing off the responsibility of bricks and mortar is another way of looking at it, shame we can't do it in this country. ;)

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  6. The film does not seen to be on at either of our local cinemas but I'm interesting in reading the book, might download it onto my Kindle.

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  7. There are loads of vids on yoootooob made by and featuring folk who are living this lifestyle. Also a few previews of the film, book, and interviews with the author.

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  8. Thank you for that review, I wondered why everyone was talking about it. Like Thrifty I watch lots of videos about vanlife dwelling on yoootooob. It's a lifestyle which fascinates me, being an ex nomad in a lorry. I quite like the idea of being able to move around, but what would I do with the cats. I am not keen on sitting in a cinema. Never did before all this mess, so I probably won't start now.

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  9. As I don't live near a cinema, and with the pandemic even if I did I wouldn't be going in, I'll have to wait until it comes on telly. However, you've encouraged me to watch it when I can, and Frances McDormand is one of my favourite actresses.

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  10. I haven't seen the film as yet but will catch up with it eventually. I have the book on hold at the library but it will be a bit of a wait as the film has drummed up a lot of interest in the book once again.
    I do watch the occasional Youtube video about people who live this lifestyle and some really do enjoy it while others seem to have been forced into it and it doesn't sit quite so comfortably. Since so many are into their later years I do wonder what they will do if they become infirm or have a longterm illness.
    Thank you for your review.

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  11. Interesting!
    I’ve ordered a copy of the book now after reading your post.

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  12. Thanks for the review Sue - don't expect I shall ever see the film but have read a lot about it.

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  13. I'll make a note of that - it hasn't got to us yet. Nomadic living is by its nature precarious, and I understand that people can fall through the healthcare and welfare systems because their address isn't registrable, so aging, infirmary or illness must be a worry.

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  14. I've read the book and not seen the film. It's good you have it on reserve; I think you'll find it significantly different from the film. I'll be anxious to hear when you do read it.

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    1. Denise Fordyce10 June 2021 at 03:40

      Like you, I have read the book but not seen the film. I thought the book was very thought provoking and challenging: certainly a very long way from the "land of endless opportunity" America wants the rest of the world believe it is.

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  15. Wow I haven't been to see a film in forever.

    Sounds interesting. There's been lots of publicity regarding the film. I might see it when it comes out on one of the streaming services.

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  16. It seems as lifetime ago since I was at the cinema, I definitely want to go and see this one if I can

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