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Dave is played by cast member David Strathairn

Kindness is a trait most associated with Dave in Nomadland. Dave’s presence is a juxtaposition to much of life’s harshness that Fern has encountered, and it’s clear he cares wholeheartedly for Fern’s wellbeing. In one scene, to encourage Fern to kick her smoking habit, he offers her licorice sticks which Fern begrudgingly accepts. When Fern splits off from the tour group in the Badlands, he finds her among the rocks, calling out to make sure she’s okay. He doesn’t hide his fondness for Fern when he asks her to dance with him at the local honky tonk and later invites her to come with him to see his son James. But Fern is hesitant to fully embrace Dave and keeps him at a distance. For Fern, it’s complicated. She still loves her late husband and being with Dave would mean a certain level of moving on from Beau. Ultimately, Dave hangs his hat on van living, opting to live permanently with his son and his growing family. Fern’s heart is with her van, so a future with Dave doesn’t seem feasible, even when he point-blank confesses his feelings and asks her to be with him.  

 

Dave’s personal life isn’t free from difficulty. He has a rocky relationship with his son, acknowledging how he wasn’t there for him when he was younger and that he “forgot how to be a dad.” But as the film nears its end, we see Dave and James’ relationship in a new light. As they jam on the piano side-by-side one evening, it’s clear that healing has begun and the two are reconciled after all these years. For Dave, it’s not too late to be present in the life of his son even if that means giving up life on the road.  

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