Wendy and Lucy (Kelly Reichardt, 2008): USA

Reviewed by Frances Rozhko. Viewed at the AFI Filmfest, Arclight Hollywood, CA.

As I viewed Wendy and Lucy at the Arclight theater on Saturday morning, I realized that it was a very simple yet intriguing film.  I noticed that the film moved at a very slow space, and nothing drastic happened throughout the film. It remained at a constant level and had a few minor conflicts. I feel like this movie could be seen by anyone who has lost there appreciation for the simple pleasures in life. This film has character, emotion, and is interesting in its own way. Wendy’s character (played by Michelle Williams) stood out most to me. She had a very mildly awkward and unfriendly nature about her. She seemed to not really enjoy socializing with people.

This was one of the films I really wanted to see at the AFI Film Festival as I looked through the film booklet, simply because I was interested in seeing Michelle Williams’ performance. She was the main character, alongside Lucy, who was Wendy’s adorable golden lab that played her best friend in the film. The director, Kelly Reichardt, seemed to do a good job portraying the simple pleasures in life that can soon be lost. I felt that she was trying to show how easy it can be for some people to financially collapse and soon have nowhere to turn. To me, she showed how easily life is taken for granted and how fast everything you love and desire can disappear.

In the first half hour of the film you really come to understand Wendy’s character. Some things that are not obvious in the beginning become more understandable throughout the film–for example, the fact that she is basically homeless. The film starts out with Wendy walking her dog (Lucy) in a normal park in Oregon as she hums a mellow tune to herself. Lucy soon runs off into the distance. Wendy calls her name a couple times and then soon notices Lucy in the arms of a homeless woman and her friends sitting around a campfire. She goes to get Lucy and converses with them telling them that she is just driving through Portland and is on her way to Alaska. After the next morning of getting in trouble for sleeping in her car in a grocery store parking lot, you soon come to understand Wendy’s current situation.

I enjoyed the cinematography in this film. I feel that every scene showed something new about Wendy’s character and life situations. I also thought that the sounds and music in this film worked really well. From what I remember, all of the music that ever played was either very quiet and mellow or was just the simple tune of Wendy humming. This really set the scene and mood for the story of this character’s life. In a way it contributed to the loneliness she expressed and mild feeling of sorrow and loss. In another way it expressed the simplicity and artistic feel to the film as well.

This film has a definite feel of the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind; the sort of unrealistic feel and awkwardness reminded me of it. It also has the same feel of confusion and goals and desires that both characters in the films have. Although they both have the same type of feel, one has to be watched more than once to understand; on the other hand, Wendy and Lucy was pretty understandable with only the first viewing.

I enjoyed this film, as much as it seemed dull and simple. It was a good change from the films that I usually watch. This film was very relaxed and laid back. Wendy’s circumstances were also understandable. The film brought meaning to life and was able to tell a story from a womans perspective. It showed how some people have to struggle for the simplest things and I thought it was a pretty mellow film. I think anyone who is interested in serious life situations and reality should watch this film. It’s a nice film to perhaps learn a thing or two from and could possibly change your perspective on certain things.