'Nomadland' director Chloé Zhao describes Frances McDormand's method approach
Frances McDormand is back with another stellar performance in Nomadland. The film's director, Chloé Zhao, recently spoke with Yahoo Entertainment about how McDormand approached the role of Fern, a woman who lives out of her van and travels around the country working low-paying odd jobs.
"We were in the hotel lobby. And then I said, 'Where's she going?'" I think she was sleeping in the van that night in the parking lot," Zhao recalled.
She added, "So she was living it, you know, she was really living the life and she's in her sixties. You know, it wasn't easy."
Watch more from Zhao in the interview above.
Video Transcript
- My mom said that you're homeless. Is that true?
- No, I'm not homeless. I'm just houseless. Not the same thing, right?
- No.
KEVIN POLOWY: "Nomadland" follows this woman played by Frances McDormand who works for ultra-low wages, lives out of her van, struggles to get by and moves around the country as the title suggests. It feels like a referendum on "the American dream". Is that how you see it? What do you think that the story says about America and its relationship with the aging working class?
CHLOE ZHAO: Well I think as we can see last year during the pandemic there is a big problem with our really societal value when it comes to how we view elders in this very capitalistic society. They are truly the most important part of a society because they have wisdom and they've lived lives and and they have things to pass on to to the younger generation. They're very important, as opposed to they're just dispensable because they can't contribute to the economy. You know how we treat our elders say a lot about what kind of society we have.
KEVIN POLOWY: As much as Fern struggles at times, there is a definite beauty and a freedom to her lifestyle that she relishes in. And the film, in turn, makes that lifestyle kind of appealing, I have to say. Have you found that the film is actually turning people on to that lifestyle? From the reactions you've heard?
CHLOE ZHAO: I think that trend is already catching the wave, even before I make the film. Because I was drawn to-- there's a tiny home movement that's happening. Young people are getting into the van-life kind of movement. And there's a minimalism movement happening in the society, de-cluttering. I think people are feeling the weight of a consumist society and economy and feeling like we don't even know who we are anymore.
So if you were to pack everything into two suitcases, what are these things and do you really need everything else to live?
KEVIN POLOWY: Frances McDormand is, I mean, one of the most incomparable actors we have. She is just once again incredible in this film. She's known to not really subscribe to what people consider the idea of a Hollywood celebrity, as famous as she is. I mean, what's one story that sticks out for you where it was like, oh yes, I mean this woman she operates on her own level.
CHLOE ZHAO: Well we were in the hotel lobby and then I said, where's she going? And then I-- I think she's sleeping in a van. That night in a parking lot and then it was a lightning storm happening. I remember thinking-- [INAUDIBLE] thinking, OK, this is good, I'm in character, I'm doing this. But I hope that the tire, the rubber tire is functional because I see the lightning storm coming closer and closer outside the window. So she was living it, you know she was really living the life and and she's in her 60s. You know, it wasn't easy.
KEVIN POLOWY: It is mind boggling that you have both "Nomadland" about to come out and still "Eternals" on the way later this year. They're both originally going to come out last year. Clearly you did these very closely together. I mean, how in the world did you pull that off? Did you jump right from one onto the other?
CHLOE ZHAO: It was funny because I pitched "Eternals" the day before I packed up the van and left to shoot "Nomadland".
KEVIN POLOWY: Wow.
CHLOE ZHAO: And then as soon as I wrapped "Nomadland", I jumped into prep for "Eternals". And as soon as I wrapped "Eternals", I started editting "Nomadland". And as soon as I finished editting "Nomadland", I started "Eternals", editting. I feel I had two children, I really do.
