Matt C.

The film follows Fern (Frances McDormand), as she packs up her life into a van and hits the road seeking a life outside of conventional American society as a modern-day nomad. Through filmmaker Chloé Zhao's own brand of docu-realism, real-life nomads are peppered in amongst Fern's advisors and new friends during her expedition through the sprawling landscape of the American West (which is beautifully captured by Zhao's partner and cinematographer Joshua James Richards). Thoughtful and subtle, the film's ability to capture the small but profound joy of human connection is deeply moving. You can stream Nomadland here.