Films like Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You.

Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You (2012) reads as Neutral, measured, gentle drama / comedy, grounded in texture. Ambivalent, intimate, measured. Every film below is ranked by distance across the same twelve hand-scored axes — with what it keeps, and where it walks away. Not a genre dump.

My Old Lady (2014) poster
1. My Old Lady2014

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Birds of America (2008) poster
2. Birds of America2008

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Cherry (2010) poster
3. Cherry2010

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Arthur Newman (2012) poster
4. Arthur Newman2012

Keeps the patient, unhurried pace and the cold, bleak undertow — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

About Alex (2014) poster
5. About Alex2014

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Everything Must Go (2011) poster
6. Everything Must Go2011

Keeps the patient, unhurried pace and the heightened unreality — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Save the Date (2012) poster
7. Save the Date2012

Keeps the heightened unreality and the grounded, familiar shape; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

Albatross (2011) poster
8. Albatross2011

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Mysteries of Pittsburgh (2008) poster
9. The Mysteries of Pittsburgh2008

Keeps the patient, unhurried pace and the cold, bleak undertow — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Every Day (2010) poster
10. Every Day2010

Keeps the heightened unreality and the grounded, familiar shape; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Best Man Down (2012) poster
11. Best Man Down2012

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Shopgirl (2005) poster
12. Shopgirl2005

Keeps the patient, unhurried pace and the heightened unreality — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

These are Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You’s neighbours — where are yours?

Rate five posters and the same twelve axes read you — then tonight’s pick comes from your own centre of taste.

Find my film for tonight — 60 sec →