When the gypsum mine in Empire, Nevada closed down in 2011, the place became a ghost town, no jobs, no shops, even the zip code is scrapped. Widowed Fern (Frances McDormand) puts her life in a small van and travels the American West, working odd jobs and sharing experiences with fellow nomads on the fringes of conventional society. Against the odds, the film that swept the board through the 2021 Award season (Best Film, Best Director, Best Leading Actress) is restrained, contemplative, and relies mainly on non-actors. Yet it nails something about the time we live in, a road movie about a forgotten and often ageing underclass from vanishing working-class communities and a personal portrait of quiet but formidable resilience. Best seen on the big screen!
Starring Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, Linda May