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Nomadland

Nomadland

Drama · 2021

A woman in her sixties embarks on a journey through the western United States after losing everything in the Great Recession, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad.

Movie details

Nomadland

“See you down the road.”

2021 Drama 1h 48m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.2 / 10

Community rating

A woman in her sixties embarks on a journey through the western United States after losing everything in the Great Recession, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Nomadland?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Minari

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An Unfinished Life

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Stoic and heartbroken, Einar Gilkyson quietly lives in the rugged Wyoming ranchlands alongside his only trusted friend, Mitch Bradley. One day, the woman he blames for the death of his only son arrives at his door broke, desperate, and with a granddaughter he's never known. But even as buried anger and accusations resurface, the way is opened for unexpected connection, adventure, and forgiveness.

Columbus

Columbus

Drama · 2017

When a renowned architecture scholar falls suddenly ill during a speaking tour, his son Jin finds himself stranded in Columbus, Indiana - a small Midwestern city celebrated for its many significant modernist buildings. Jin strikes up a friendship with Casey, a young architecture enthusiast who works at the local library.

Train Dreams

Train Dreams

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A logger leads a life of quiet grace as he experiences love and loss during an era of monumental change in early 20th-century America.

Wendy and Lucy

Wendy and Lucy

Drama · 2008

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Rain Man

Rain Man

Drama · 1988

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The Salt Path

The Salt Path

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A couple lose their home and later discover the husband has been diagnosed with a terminal illness as they embark on a year long coastal trek.

Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men

Drama · 1939

An intellectually disabled giant and his level headed guardian find work at a sadistic cowboy's ranch in depression era America.

Things We Lost in the Fire

Things We Lost in the Fire

Drama · 2007

A recent widow invites her husband's troubled best friend to live with her and her two children. As he gradually turns his life around, he helps the family cope and confront their loss.

Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Chloé Zhao

Written by

Chloé Zhao

Frances McDormand

Frances McDormand

Fern

David Strathairn

David Strathairn

Dave

Linda May

Linda May

Linda

Swankie

Swankie

Swankie

G

Gay DeForest

Gay

P

Patricia Grier

Patty

A

Angela Reyes

Angela

Court is in session

Put Nomadland on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.