Nomadland, the acclaimed dramatic film based on Jessica Bruder’s 2017 nonfiction book, was the only book-to-screen adaptation to win at the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony last night—but it won big, receiving Oscars for best picture, best director for Chloé Zhao, and best actress for Frances McDormand. In her final acceptance speech, Zhao thanked Bruder “for trusting us with her beautiful book.”
Bruder’s work, which received a Kirkus Star, focuses on people who live out of their vehicles and travel for seasonal employment. The author “traveled with some of the houseless for years while researching and writing her book,” Kirkus’ review noted. “She builds the narrative around one especially accommodating nomad, senior citizen Linda May, who is fully fleshed on the page thanks to the author’s deep reporting.” May appears in the movie, as do other nomads whom Bruder interviewed for the book, including Charlene Swankie and Bob Wells; May and Swankie both attended last night’s ceremony.
The film’s previous accolades include two Golden Globe Awards for best dramatic film and best director, and four Film Independent Spirit Awards for best feature, best director, best editing (for Zhao), and best cinematography.
Ten other book adaptations received Oscar nominations but didn’t take home trophies. Most notably, News of the World, the Tom Hanks–starring Western based on Paulette Jiles’ Kirkus-starred 2016 novel, had been up for awards for cinematography, original score, production design, and sound. Hillbilly Elegy, the Netflix film version of J.D. Vance’s Kirkus-starred 2016 memoir, and the Jane Austen adaptation Emma had also been in the running in multiple categories.
David Rapp is the senior Indie editor.
