Chloé and Frances at their van in Pasadena accepting the award via teleconferencing (La Biennale di Venezia)
The Golden Lion at Venice 12 September when to Nomadland directed by Chloé Zhao who shot, edited and directed the film, starring Frances McDormand. This was an incredible film , a rich tapestry that chronicles the people that live on the road, in trailers, many of them baby boomers who do not have enough social security to live on, and have to rely on odd jobs such as working in Amazon mail centers in remote areas. The travelers are not homeless, they are 'houseless' as Fern (McDormand) said at the press conference yesterday broadcast widescreen via Zoom. She considers herself a 'docent' on this journey rather than actor.
There was not one reported case of Covid at this festival! The first physical filmfestival vs virtual since the lockdown!
Now Chloé along with Mira Nair are the only women of color of five women that have won the Golden Lion since 1949 with 77 editions. Many films were directed by women at this festival and the jury president was Cate Blanchett. Tilda Swinton and Ann Hui were the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement. It took a pandemic to change the face of this festival for women.
Vanessa Kirby won the Volpi Cup (best actress) for Pieces of a Woman based on a true story of 13 hour still born delivery (Kirby) where the midwife was sued for negligence.
Volpi Cup to Vanessa Clisby
Moira Jean Sullivan
Filmfestivals.com
FIPRESCI
