Nomadland Review: 9 Ups & 1 Down

8. It's A Devastating Examination Of Post-Recession America

It's tough to think of another film in recent memory which has examined the Great Recession with such clarity, focus, and empathy.

Beyond a few scattered discussions about how Fern lost her house in the wake of 2008's events, Zhao largely uses the global financial catastrophe less as a political tool and more as a primer for Fern's quest for self-discovery.

But Zhao's film certainly has a lot to say about the state of America over the last decade, painting a picture of courageous modern-day nomads who choose to forge ahead alone because they live in a society that's given them little other choice.

Though set in 2011, the scenario feels no less relatable today, especially in a year where so many jobs have been lost and people's livelihoods have been threatened. In that sense, it is most certainly a film for our time.