Out of the 30-some diverse subjects that make up Searchers, a documentary about New Yorkers navigating online dating, Robert, 75, and Arthur, 78, are the most fun to be around. They’re single and use Match.com, but have differing stances on how they like to use it and whether it will bring them a real companion. What they do agree on is that using the app is a job. It takes up time and money. “The whole thing is a pain in the ass,” Robert says. And then Arthur counters with a regretful shrug. “What’s the alternative?”

This is about as close to a thesis as director Pacho Velez can deliver. Though finding love on dating apps can often feel hopeless, they also remain a virtual source of hope, a paradox that—especially in the midst of a pandemic when physical connection is at a premium—fits the tone of this ambiguous exploration.