WENDY AND LUCY
US, 2008, 80 minutes, Colour.
Michelle Williams, Will Patton, Will Oldham, John Robinson, Wally Dalton.
Directed by Kelly Reichhardt.
Wendy and Lucy is a brief portrait of a young woman travelling from Indiana to Alaska for a summer job who is stranded in Oregon with her dog, has some bad experiences for a couple of days, and then moves on.
Audiences who relish films that emphasise art and craft over flair and effects will welcome this very plain film. It is quite unfussy. It is quite unhurried. It relies on audiences being interested in Wendy (and it should be mentioned at once that Lucy is her dog). It is a slice of life presented in minimalist style.
One of the difficulties with this kind of minimalist film-making is that the director must ensure that the audience is really interested in the character and appreciates events and situations. Michelle Williams is quietly effective as Wendy. A supporting cast of character actors make the situations seem real (although Wendy's momentary attempt at shoplifting when she did have some money raises some dramatic questions about her behaviour and motivation). There is a security guard who moves her on out of the supermarket parking lot but is kindly later. A very proper young man demands prosecution because of the shoplifting. A mechanic (Will Patton) explains why Wendy's car has broken down.
But, many audiences will find they have minimal interest in Wendy and her experiences which the even-paced minimalist style will not increase. With all the best will in the world, and admiring the skills brought to the film-making, this was the experience of this reviewer.
1.The minimalist style of the film? Simple focus on characters, locations? Not obtrusive for the audience? The effect of observation by the audience?
2.The Oregon setting, the town, detail, the countryside, the garage, the hotel, the police office, the prison? Authentic? The musical score?
3.Audience interest in observing this minimalist style and minimalist story? The portrait of Wendy? Her plight? Her dog?
4.The attitudes of the townspeople, the security guard warning her off – yet friendly later, helping her, the message, the dog? Andy at the store and his severe attitude towards her shoplifting? The mechanic, his work on the car, matter-of-fact presentation of the facts? The grocery cashiers and their help? The pound employee and her friendliness? A mixture and cross-section of American people?
5.Wendy in herself, seeing her at the opening walking through the woods with her dog, coming across the group, discussion of her prospects for a job in Alaska? Her bonding with Lucy? Her age, her appearance, hair, clothes and shorts? Her sleeping in the car, her being moved on by the security guard? Her reaction? Her going to the store, the shoplifting? Her reaction, her denials? The young man and his severity? The police? Her being taken by the police, her not being able to unleash Lucy? In the prison? The demands about the fine, her paying in cash? The reason for her shoplifting if she had cash? Looking for Lucy? The search all around the town? The problem of her car, going to the garage, its not always being open? The discussions with the mechanic, the quote, recommending to buy a new car? Her puzzle about the dog, going to the pound? Sleeping in the car, being moved on by the police? The good news from the security guard, going to look for Lucy, finding her, realising she would have to leave her behind and that she had a good home? Her getting on the train, going to Alaska? Knowing very little about her background? Her phone call, to Indiana, the reaction of her sister, not wanting to give money, her brother-in-law? Her prospects? The portrait of a young American woman?
6.The security guard, the letter of the law for the supermarket parking space? Helping her push the car? Sympathetic? His wife in the car, the message about the dog, giving her some money?
7.The supermarket, the young man, his exact demands according to the letter of the law? His meeting Wendy afterwards and her comments?
8.The mechanic, sympathetic, explaining the situation clearly?
9.The other people in the town, cross-section of people, some kind, some severe? The cashiers at the store, the woman at the pound?
10.The minimalist style, the minimalist story – admiration for the film? Difficult or easy to identify with the characters and plot?
