The Movie Guide for Women
  • Home
  • Author Bio
  • Women in Film
  • Book Blog
  • Excerpts

Uncommon inclusions in Nomadland (2020)

5/25/2021

0 Comments

 
There are many uncommon inclusions in Nomadland (2020), but I want to draw your attention to just three noteworthy ones today. Firstly it is one of the very few feature films in which women appear without makeup intended to make them look more attractive to men. Most of the female characters look like they aren't wearing any makeup at all. Secondly it boasts at least three named female characters with lines that are over sixty, including the protagonist, 63-year-old Frances McDormand. The third inclusion occurs more than halfway through in a short scene in which McDormand is performing janitorial duties. She is cleaning the mirror of a men's public restroom when a man walks in, and she tells him the restroom is closed (for cleaning). He ignores her completely, walks to the stall next to her and begins urinating without acknowledging her in any way. It is obvious that she is uncomfortable, and she leaves before he finishes, clearly not wishing to remain in the restroom with this rude, inconsiderate man.

None of these inclusions receive attention from any of the characters. They do not comment on the absence of makeup, the women's ages or the man's lack of regard for a woman in a public restroom. However, these inclusions merit our attention. The screenplay was written by Chloé Zhao, based on a book by Jessica Bruder, and was also directed by Zhao. It is not an insignificant detail that women were instrumental in making this film. Female filmmakers tend to portray female characters more realistically than their male counterparts. Their female characters tend to be treated better. Female filmmakers are also much more likely to focus on men's blameworthy behaviour towards women. It's a film that is definitely worth a watch.

Copyright © 2021 Alline Cormier
Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    The film analyst who puts women first. Author of an upcoming film guide for women. 
    Watch related movie clips on her YouTube channel (ACPicks). 
    ​Read her articles in Island Woman Magazine, Feminist Current, 4W,  Women Making Films India and The Post Millennial. 

    Picture

    Archives

    December 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Site powered by Weebly. Managed by Web Hosting Canada
  • Home
  • Author Bio
  • Women in Film
  • Book Blog
  • Excerpts