Wendy and Lucy (Kelly Reighardt, 2008): USA

Reviewed by Alessa Valenzuela at the AFI film festival, Los Angeles California.

Wendy and Lucy was made for the patient viewer, who notices the simple small things that can make for a big performance. As previously mentioned, the AFI film festival served up a vast array of genres in their film selections for 2008. I decided to watch Kelly Reighardt’s new film Wendy and Lucy as a last minute decision, really not knowing anything bout the film or the directors for that matter. My experience at the festival up had consisted of unsettling stories full of vivid images of death and discomfort so Wendy and Lucy was a breath of fresh air, a simple honest story of life in America and the economic challenges we still face today.

            Kelly Righardt’s film depicts the very true life of a struggling American Woman named Wendy (Michelle Williams) working her way through the country up towards Alaska looking for seasonal work. While on her cross-country journey she lives in her car with Lucy, a medium golden brown dog with kind eyes and a friendly bark. While making a pit stop for a little R &R, Wendy is served up a few unexpected curve balls that pull the break in her 1989 Honda Accord and on her travels. The turning point of the film is when Wendy realizes that she can’t keep going forward and there is no way of going back, lost and broke the journey is less about the destination and most importantly about what she has to do to get there. When Lucy goes missing and she finds herself with no car and dwindling money

            One of the most interesting dynamic of the film is the relationship that Wendy develops with a mall security guard (Wally Dalton). When they first meet he is trying to get her off the vacant parking lot only her car won’t start. He helps her to roll her car off the lot and suggest a place she might get some cheap eats; throughout her stay in the desperate town he becomes the only kind heart in the film. It’s very clear that Wendy has had to be in survival mode for so long it takes her time to finally open up to the man, the sincerity and gratitude she shows is magnificent.

            The most challenging and moving scene in the film is when Wendy, who is sleeping near the rail road on nothing but cardboard and a blanket is disturbed by a homeless man riffling through her bag. She instantly becomes paralyzed with fear, while he begins to spout menacingly about his life, the world and its injustices, and how Wendy is alone, no one cared. There is a brief moment when you really don’t know what will happens, is he going to hurt her, help her, or leave her be? Michelle Williams truly shines in this and the following scene, she says nothing but her physical breakdown weighs heavy on you. She runs to a gas station where she washes up everyday and rips off everything, desperately trying to wash off the life she is in. Without a doubt it is the most riveting part of the film.

            At moments the film can feel tedious, long extended shots capture the very somber and unimpressive life of the American poor. Kelly Reichardt strips all the bells and whistles that most times accompany the genre of Drama and portrays her characters honesty and simply. It is this approach to filmmaking that makes each scene so interesting. The most noticeable thing about her filming technique is that the camera never follows its subjects, they move freely in and out of frame that makes the audience feel less intrusive. Cinematically sprawling shots of America are accompanied only by a calming almost nursery like humming of tune that beautifully cascades through the story. 

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Published:
11.09.08 / 11pm
Category:
AFI Filmfest 2008, Films