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Wendy and Lucy

6.9

2,717

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Original title

Wendy and Lucyaka

AKA

Wendy & Lucy

Year

2008

Running time

80 min.

Country

United States

Director

Kelly Reichardt

Screenwriter

Kelly Reichardt, Jonathan Raymond

Cast

Music

Will Oldham

Cinematography

Sam Levy

Producer

Field Guide Films, Glass Eye Pix

Genre

Drama | Friendship. Dogs/Wolves. Independent Film (US)

Synopsis

Proving why she is one of the most highly-regarded auteurs of current cinema, Kelly Reichardt’s (OLD JOY) subtle storytelling technique uses a formal minimalist style to weave together a unique emotional and political road film. Wendy Carroll (Michelle Williams) is driving to Ketchikan, Alaska, in hopes of a summer of lucrative work at the Northwestern Fish cannery, and the start of a new life with her dog, Lucy. When her car breaks down in Oregon, however, the thin fabric of her financial situation comes apart, and she confronts a series of increasingly dire economic decisions, with far-ranging repercussions for herself and Lucy. WENDY AND LUCY addresses issues of sympathy and generosity at the edges of American life, revealing the limits and depths of people’s duty to each other in tough times.

Awards: 2008: American Film Institute (AFI): Top 10 - Movies of the Year

2008: Gijon Film Festival: Official Selection

2008: Independent Spirit Awards: 2 Nominations including Best Film

2008: National Society of Film Critics (NSFC): nominated to Best Actress.

2008: Gijón Film Festival: nominated to Best Feature Film.

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Critics' reviews

"Another illustration of how absorbing a film can be when the plot doesn't stand between us and a character. (...) Rating: ★★★½ (out of four)."

Roger Ebert: Chicago Sun-Times
"'Wendy and Lucy' is modest, minimalist. But it nonetheless reverberates like a sonic boom"

Steven Rea: Philadelphia Inquirer
"Reichardt doesn't so much tell a story as paint a finely detailed portrait of human suffering in this miniature marvel"

Lou Lumenick: New York Post
"Simple story, beautifully told"

Peter Travers: Rolling Stone
"Williams' performance is remarkable not only for its depth but for its stillness"

Sam Adams: Los Angeles Times
"Masterful low-budget drama"

J.R. Jones: Chicago Reader
"'Wendy and Lucy' is like 'Lassie Come Home' directed by Antonioni (...) Reichardt views the renunciation of society with something close to righteous purity"

Owen Gleiberman: Entertainment Weekly
"An evocative film with a believable and subtly enthralling lead performance that gets deeply under your skin. (...) Rating: ★★★½ (out of 4)"

Claudia Puig: USA Today

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Ranking Lists Position

66 My Top 10 Movies from 2008 (51)

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Wendy and Lucy

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