On the night of the Oscars 2021, the director triumphs
Chloé Zhao with her ‘Nomadland’.
A trip to the American nomadic communities
to remind us that home is where they are those we love.
The night of the Oscars 2021, edition number 93, will remain in history. The reasons are different. First of all the context in which it took place and all the uncertainties related to the particular historical moment, including the postponement of the famous and usual live broadcast from February to April. A Dolby Theater with a different atmosphere, with many stars connected remotely and a red carpet that, however, had the strength to keep the level of glamor high … net of a few slips.
But you know, on the occasion of the delivery of the most coveted statuette of the movie industry, everything is allowed and above all it is essential to remember that in the face of irresistible looks and gossip, cinema is always the true and only protagonist.
The Oscars 2021 represent a sign of rebirth of the film industry which, despite the dark period, does not bow its head and celebrates its excellence. The predictions before the classic ‘And the Oscar goes to …’ are a source of curiosity, but this year, however, the bookmakers had no doubts, giving as favorites ‘Nomadland’ and its director Chloé Zhao.
Chloé Zhao and the dream to tell stories
And in the end the forecasts were met, to triumph at the Academy Awards was Chloé Zhao, the second woman ever to win in the category as Best Director after Kathryn Bigelow. But there is more. Zhao was born in Beijing, and although she has lived in the United States since college, in her film she recounts what she herself calls the America of the marginalized. A different point of view in the Hollywood scene, which on the night of April 25 consecrated this director to the Olympus of cinema.
A nice woman, with a considerable interest in Italy and a passion for the stories of those who live on the margins of society. Growing up with Japanese manga, she dreamed of becoming a cartoonist but despite not having a talent for drawing, she did not abandon the desire to want to tell. A desire that prompted her to fly to New York and attend film school.
Why ‘Nomadland’?
‘Nomadland’, home is where the ones we love are. This is how we can summarize the essence of the Best Film of the Oscars 2021, a film born from a specific will of the director: ‘In nature we can heal and in solitude we can find ourselves’. The plot explores the everyday life of a nomadic community that slowly reclaims the vast American spaces, perhaps around a fire or a recycling market. A dedication, the one to the resilience and kindness of the nomad communities, comes through the voice of the protagonist, played by the unconventional Frances McDormand, awarded with the statuette for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
Chloé Zhao talks about the relationship with the actress as a journey together, a journey by sea with its peaceful days and storms, during which you have to find the right feeling to get to your destination together. A journey that lasted four months, exhausting shots that led to the creation of a quality and successful product.
Where to watch the movie
‘Nomadland’ is based on Jessica Bruder’s book of the same name. It is a story that crosses the States, a widow – Frances McDormand – who moves with her camper towards the West touching South Dakota, the Nevada desert and finally reaches the Pacific where she becomes part of a nomadic community managing with the other members a sincere empathic bond. As a background to the narration there are the landscapes, the mountains but also the industrial cities that have now become ghostly places where his work life echoes. In Italy, ‘Nomadland’ will be released in movie theaters from April 29th and will also be available on Star within Disney+ from April 30th.
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