Grace Parker

Minor spoilers... Stoic to the extreme, Fern’s an admirable character but you can’t help but pity her. She stayed in Empire long after everyone else had moved and the town had closed down. She stayed at the Bob Wells meet until she was the only one left. She stayed in the Badlands even after everyone had moved on. She can’t let go and so ironically she is the least suited person to the nomadic lifestyle. However, she can’t let herself fully commit to a new place or to a new person because, as evidenced by her return to Empire at the end of the film, she feels it would be akin to cheating on the life she had with her husband if she were to allow herself a new home and/or a new partner so instead she continues with her nomadic life where she can just about survive but never flourish. Loneliness, self punishment, stubbornness and pride. Loyal to her husband’s memory to the point of self neglect. Quiet and thought provoking, it’s a beautiful film but one I wouldn’t want to watch again as while the pace suited the film it would feel too slow a second time.