“Nomadland” Trailer Showcases Possible Oscar Contender

Searchlight Pictures just released a new trailer for the upcoming drama, Nomadland from Eternals director, Chloé Zhao. The film is based on the non-fiction book from acclaimed author Jessica Bruder and the early word is that the project could be a strong awards contender.

The book itself deals with the Great Recession and the people who lost work because of it, which, in turn, forced them to move about the country looking for jobs. The adaptation picks up on this established theme and follows Fern, played by Frances McDormand, who’s something of a recluse at the time. The film will highlight her struggles after she loses everything, and she decides to live out of her van while traveling across the western United States.

Nomadland actually appeared on the film circuit earlier this year, debuting at the Toronto and Venice film festivals. The movie would find widespread critical acclaim at these events, becoming the first production to take the top honor from both festivals. Reviewers noted the earnest and unflinching tone of the project, with both McDormand’s performance and Zhao’s directing being praised. It’s said that both will likely be in heavy awards consideration for their respective roles in the production. The film is being cited as a deep character study that focuses on recovering from loss and failure.

The buzz around the film has only built in ensuing months, and many are looking at Nomadland as, possibly, the film to beat in the Best Picture race. While Zhao is perhaps most well-known as the woman behind Marvel’s Eternals, she is an extremely talented director that appears to have another hit on her hands, ahead of her blockbuster debut. The film will have a small, Oscars-qualifying run this month and is scheduled to go wide in February of 2021, just in time for awards season. The full trailer can be seen below: