Nomadland has won the best picture Oscar at the 93rd Academy Awards. A study of retirees struggling to make ends meet, Nomadland stars Frances McDormand alongside a group of non-professional actors, and is directed by Chinese-American film-maker Chloé Zhao. The film was inspired by Jessica Bruder’s non-fiction book Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century.
Unusually, the best picture award was not the last of the night, being announced before the awards for best actor and best actress.
Nomadland defeated strong competition for the Oscar, including The Father, a heart-rending study of dementia starring Anthony Hopkins; Mank, a biopic of Citizen Kane scriptwriter Herman J Mankiewicz; and Promising Young Woman, the rape-revenge comedy drama starring Carey Mulligan.
Director Chloé Zhao paid tribute to her film-making team saying: “We thank all the hearts and hands that came together to make this movie,” and thanked the real-life subjects of the film, who also appeared in front of the screen: “Thank you for teaching us the power of resilience and for teaching us what kindness is.”
The film’s lead performer, Frances McDormand, also spoke briefly, asking viewers to “please watch out movie on the largest screen possible” as well as the other nominees. She finished by saying: “We give this one to our wolf,” and howled – in what is thought to be a reference to Nomadland’s sound mixer Michael Wolf Snyder who died in March, aged 35.
Earlier in the evening, Zhao made history after she became the first female director of colour to win the Oscar for best director, but Nomadland failed to pick up awards for best editing and best cinematography. However, Frances McDormand went on to win the best actress Oscar.
The film had previously won a string of accolades, including the Golden Lion at the Venice film festival, best motion picture (drama) at the Golden Globes, and best film at the Baftas.
• Chloé Zhao becomes first woman of colour to win best director Oscar
• Frances McDormand wins third best actress Oscar for Nomadland
