Oscars 2021: Is Nomadland based on a true story and where can you watch the film?

Nomadland is one of the most nominated films at tomorrow night’s Academy Awards (Oscars).

The drama stars Frances McDormand as Fern, who leaves her hometown of Empire, Nevada following the death of her husband and the closure of the sole industry.

She then becomes ‘houseless’ as she embarks on a road trip across the United States.

At the Oscars, the movie has been nommed for a total of six awards.

It is up against the likes of Mank, Minari and Sound Of Metal for best picture, while leading star Frances McDormand has picked up a nomination for best actress.

Nomadland has already won big at previous award ceremonies, picking up gongs at the Baftas and the Golden Globe Awards.

But is the plot of the new release based on a true story, and where can you watch it?

Is Nomadland based on a true story?

Nomadland is based on the non-fiction book Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century by Jessica Bruder, which details the phenomenon of older Americans who adopted transient lifestyles travelling around the US following the Great Recession.

The film is partly inspired by true events, while also incorporating fictional plot details and being heavily influenced by the real-life nomadic movement.

People who live the nomadic lifestyle are featured in the movie, and play fictionalised versions of themselves, including Fern’s friends Linda May and Swankie, both of whom also appear in the original book.

Fern is also introduced to Bob Wells, another nomad who plays himself.

Who is Chloe Zhao?

Chloe Zhao is a Chinese-American filmmaker, known primarily for her work on independently-made US films. She is the director of Nomadland.

Her debut feature film, Songs My Brothers Taught Me, premiered at the 2015 Sundance film festival to critical success. Her second film, The Rider, was released in 2017 and was praised by critics.

She has recently ventured into blockbuster productions, and is attached to the upcoming Marvel film Eternals, which will be released in November 2021.

Chloe picked up the award for best director at the Baftas earlier this month – becoming the first Asian woman to do so. She also became the second ever female to win the award at the Golden Globes in February.

She is again nominated for best director at the Oscars, facing competition from Thomas Vinterberg, David Fincher, Lee Issac Chung and Emerald Fennell.

Where to watch Nomadland in the UK

Good news for cinemagoers, as Nomadland is expected to be shown in cinemas across the UK when they are allowed to reopen on May 17 – provided infection rates of Covid-19 are low enough.

If you’d rather enjoy the film from the comfort of your own home, then you will be available to view it on Disney+ starting from April 30.

The streaming service currently costs £7.99 a month, or £79.90 annually if you haven’t already signed up.

There are plenty of other Disney-owned films and TV series available to stream on the service, and some more recent offerings include the Marvel shows WandaVision and The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.  

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