Reviews

Nomadland

Reviewed by Vaughan Ames

Keswick Film Club started back last Sunday with the amazing Oscar winning 'Nomadland' plus the huge bonus of being in the wonderful, revamped Alhambra. If you haven't been there yet do go and see; from the beautiful, restored frontage, through the stunning new foyer/bar and into the repainted Screen One with its more spacious seats. Not to mention the new Screen Two... or the very pretty toilets!

And then we had the critics 'best film of the year', which turned out to be a poetic, inspiring ride though the deserts of the USA. There are now around three million nomads in America living in motorhomes, of which about 90% are over 55. They may have started out there because of lost jobs and homes but many are now content, travelling from job to job, place to place, not trying to settle down but expanding their existence to 'find the joy' in life. They don't see themselves as homeless, just houseless and the communities formed are self-supporting and a lot happier than they were in their previous lives.

Writer/director ChloƩ Zhao has woven a story here around Fern, (Frances McDormand) who gradually finds a joy of her own as she makes more and more friends in the groups of nomads she meets. We are shown some beautiful scenery along the way, with Arizonian sun setting through Saguaro cacti or thousands of swallows nesting on a cliff. The whole film becomes an inspiration to us to keep on seeking more, whatever we may have lost on our journey.

We are so pleased to be back and hope to see some of you over the next few weeks. Do book early as we are still socially distancing so there is a limited audience. Come on down and take a look!