Most critics respond warmly to Wanda, with praise clustering around its close observation of hardship, Loden’s performance and the rough grain of its photography. The reviews describe a compassionate character study, finding vulnerability, resilience and unforced feeling in her acting. The New Yorker particularly values the physical force of the handheld cinematography, while other positive accounts praise the calm direction and the beauty found in harsh surroundings.
The recorded scores range from mixed to strongly positive, with five positive assessments and no negative ones, but the reasons for the lower ratings remain unclear. The New York Times review is only partially accessible, with no identifiable verdict, while The Playlist’s text is unavailable. Neither therefore supplies a confirmed objection to set against the praise. The available commentary suggests broad agreement; the incomplete sources prevent a reliable account of where reservations lie.