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Wendy and Lucy
Wendy and Lucy
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Wendy and Lucy

Wendy and Lucy

2008
Drama
1h 20m
On her way to Alaska, a young woman is stranded in Oregon due to a series of ordinary financial predicaments that leave her near destitute with difficult personal decisions to make.

Directed by:

Kelly Reichardt

Screenwriter:

Kelly Reichardt, Jonathan Raymond

Starring:

Will Patton, Michelle Williams, Ayanna Berkshire, John Robinson, Larry Fessenden, Will Oldham, Gabe Nevins, Wally Dalton, M. Blash, Jeanine Jackson, Lucy, Deneb Catalan

Genre:

Drama

Country:

USA

Language:

English
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Wendy and Lucy

2008
Drama
1h 20m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 61.82% from 987 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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martintellerMartinTeller
Rated 19 Jun 2011
96
98th
Exceptionally understated but moving. Like UMBERTO D with a bit of the Dardennes thrown in the mix. It's a bleak film and a massive downer but Reichardt sees the potential for goodness in people. She allows us to see Wendy's occasional mistakes, doesn't romanticize her plight for a moment, refuses to either imbue her with a sorrowful backstory or a certain future. Williams' performance is gorgeously restrained. A beautiful film, although I'm not sure my heart could stand another viewing.
Rated 19 Jun 2011
icarusIcarus
Rated 08 Jun 2010
83
72nd
A compassionate piece of filmmaking. Aside from any illustration of economic struggle, the film works hard to place viewers in Wendy's shoes. This is, I think, the main goal of the film. Rather than make a statement, it works to engender compassion for someone else, for someone we don't really understand that well. She is a human being, and because of that, she deserves our grace and our consideration.
Rated 08 Jun 2010
theficionadotheficionado
Rated 27 Apr 2009
63
61st
Nice, sad little film that speaks relatively eloquently about how poverty is a constraining force, but that's all it has down its sleeve. Michelle Williams makes the movie.
Rated 27 Apr 2009
sebbysebby
Rated 20 Dec 2008
75
84th
Wendy and Lucy is a fairly clear allegory for contemporary American economic peril. And for the most part, it's effective. Williams dutifully carries the movie along as one forlorn occurrence after another threatens to finally overwhelm and sweep her away. Reichardt's style will be boring for most, but to me she is one of the most patient and restrained filmmakers working today.
Rated 20 Dec 2008
derekstarDerekstar
Rated 14 Sep 2011
40
19th
Fuck, why did I just subject myself to that?
Rated 14 Sep 2011
cinemaasiaCinema_Asia
Rated 04 Mar 2010
65
42nd
Average hard luck story with not much substance. The cinematography is decent though. I suppose you could draw all sorts of pretentious parallels to the American national character and economy but I sincerely hope that was not the intention. I also didn't really buy the portrayal of a cute young white woman having these problems in America either. Maybe she should have used couch surfer to find a place to stay and not been caught doing stupid things?
Rated 04 Mar 2010
hehejajahehejaja
Rated 15 Feb 2010
85
84th
The formal sobriety just lets you sink into a state of peaceful attentiveness. There's something with the calmness and aimlessness here reminding me of Jarmusch. There's this mood of withdrawal persistent from start to finish, escalating in the final minutes, which seem to suggest a kind of silent, perplexed agony - but as Loach does in Kes, Reichardt makes the despondent something... I don't know, not uplifting, heartening, I think, but not despondent, anyhow. This doesn't hit hard, but it hits
Rated 15 Feb 2010
bofbof
Rated 15 Apr 2021
85
92nd
"Have you seen, have you heard a lost dog raise her head to the heavens and howl? The other dogs slowly walk away, tail between their legs, for they can neither comfort nor help." Not wildly adventurous plotwise, but an incredibly guarded performance by Williams and Reichardt's eye for detail both in the world and in her characters (those damn birds, man) elevate this to pure heartbreakery.
Rated 15 Apr 2021
jschlanskyJSchlansky
Rated 06 Sep 2020
83
83rd
Slow, heavy, and with only the faintest glimpses of hope. I love how the film sidesteps opportunities to paint certain characters as antagonists and instead allows the real antagonist to be circumstance. "Can't get an address without an address, can't get a job without a job." There is one scene that is the tensest I've felt in a non-horror/thriller film in a while. Fans of the pacing found in films like Leave No Trace or Shotgun Stories will likely find a lot to enjoy in Wendy and Lucy
Rated 06 Sep 2020
natebarriosnatebarrios
Rated 02 Aug 2020
75
75th
lucy a scene-stealer, tbh
Rated 02 Aug 2020
fenixdownfenixdown
Rated 19 May 2020
85
92nd
Remarkable tale of a stray human.
Rated 19 May 2020
nathan_sNathan S
Rated 20 Jun 2017
5
93rd
No person is an island, but some are exiled anyway, and some are self-imposed exiles. Reichardt doesn't dwell on how Wendy and Lucy came to be in this predicament, only that they are. It's that pragmatism - unembellished, matter of fact, and in the moment - and a restrained performance by Michelle Williams which turn this film's apparently ordinary manner into extraordinary feeling. It is immensely upsetting.
Rated 20 Jun 2017
hofschneiderHofschneider
Rated 02 Jan 2014
83
75th
Heartbreaking.
Rated 02 Jan 2014
bojanglesBojangles
Rated 27 Mar 2011
90
97th
whyzit gotta be so hard to run away to alaska these days?
Rated 27 Mar 2011
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 02 Feb 2010
74
40th
Michelle Williams gives an excellent performance but the film as a whole is lacking. It's maybe a little too understated and matter of fact about what goes on, relying completely on sympathy to engage the audience, while some interesting observations are scattered throughout but never developed. As a film based on little moments it needed something more.
Rated 02 Feb 2010
jarmannJarmann
Rated 01 Feb 2010
55
20th
Welcome to Indy-hell.
Rated 01 Feb 2010
drstrangeluvdrstrangeluv
Rated 18 Dec 2009
75
66th
A fairly simple film carried by a strong performance from Michelle Williams. As an allegory on the American economy, it feels a bit too on-the-nose, but as a simple story of one girl's journey to find her dog, it's quite a success. Be sure to keep a box of tissues handy.
Rated 18 Dec 2009
filmfreak88filmfreak88
Rated 05 Dec 2009
85
89th
Michelle Williams is terrific. Sometimes quiet movies speak the loudest.
Rated 05 Dec 2009
halfjapaneseHalfJapanese
Rated 10 Oct 2009
60
23rd
An interesting if not great indie that ultimately isn't as heartbreaking or sympathetic as it would like to be. The most significant flaw is a protagonist who is less a victim of circumstance than a victim of her own moronic decisions.
Rated 10 Oct 2009
jstryjstry
Rated 13 Aug 2009
92
95th
A realistic portrayal of both poverty and life in a blue collar, small town. Williams keeps it from being slow, despite not much going on. She really draws you in and is able to say a lot without having to speak. Looks like a lot of people found it boring, but for me, it's my kind of movie. I'd rather feel a connection with a character when there's not a lot going on than keep track of lots of characters and the unrealistic chaos that they inevitably get themselves into.
Rated 13 Aug 2009
strangelimestrangelime
Rated 27 Jun 2009
85
69th
A modern day Umberto D that works very well and is driven by a wonderful performance from Michelle Williams.
Rated 27 Jun 2009
westknifewestknife
Rated 28 May 2009
85
78th
A very powerful story. It's one of those movies where I just sat there in quiet contemplation during the credits.
Rated 28 May 2009
coffeecoffee
Rated 25 Apr 2009
70
50th
It's ok but I was expecting a much better film..
Rated 25 Apr 2009
indyfilmfestIndyFilmFest
Rated 28 Dec 2008
95
85th
One of the most beautiful, realistic portrayals of poverty captured in recent cinema. Michelle Williams doesn't act - she lives the part.
Rated 28 Dec 2008
brrrpbrrrp
Rated 19 Feb 2024
85
94th
A very simple movie that is well executed. Very real, unsugared, but with a strong emotional core.
Rated 19 Feb 2024
rihreyrihrey
Rated 03 Feb 2024
64
85th
A deeply sad and moving film. The cinematography is stellar and so is Michelle William's performance.
Rated 03 Feb 2024
mrcinemaMr.Cinema
Rated 30 Dec 2022
65
68th
Talented Actress has played the role of Lovely Character in Calm Minimal Film!!!
Rated 30 Dec 2022
p_u_l_pP u l p
Rated 26 Dec 2022
71
75th
I know it's not actually the shopkeeper's fault but fuck him...
Rated 26 Dec 2022
bownBown
Rated 27 Jun 2022
86
79th
Truly one of the best examples I’ve ever seen of micro-budget independent filmmaking. So powerful and heart-wrenching.
Rated 27 Jun 2022
driscarpindriscarpin
Rated 22 Jun 2022
92
91st
Kelly Reichardt é um monumento do grande cinema desde o princípio, certamente um dos cineastas interessantes em atividade hoje nos EUA e aqui não é diferente. E a gente sabe que esse aqui ganha pontos extras com todo mundo porque a maioria das pessoas já tiverem algum problema relacionado ao perder ou ter dificuldade em criar um pet cuja vida é nossa razão de viver. Na Mubi.
Rated 22 Jun 2022
metismetis
Rated 06 Aug 2021
70
45th
7?
Rated 06 Aug 2021
karbonaichKarbonaich
Rated 04 Aug 2021
50
6th
w/ Gaye
Rated 04 Aug 2021
barnowlBarnowl
Rated 23 Jul 2021
88
47th
Wendy and Lucy is a film that is just passing through. While the story is very heartfelt and simple, and pacing is good, unfortunately the movie has a hard time accurately representing typical characters you'd meet in Wilsonville, Oregon. This wouldn't be as big of an issue if the setting weren't such an important aspect of the movie.
Rated 23 Jul 2021
jpfergusonJPFerguson
Rated 20 Sep 2020
80
89th
The usual offering from Reichardt (that's fully intended as a compliment), but more tragic and a less smooth narrative than her other films. As is expected of a Reichardt film, the cast is all superb and the pacing of the film is almost perfect. Not only does Reichardt have a very good eye when photographing but also when editing.
Rated 20 Sep 2020
aflickeringAFlickering
Rated 12 Sep 2020
3
36th
https://letterboxd.com/del/film/wendy-and-lucy/
Rated 12 Sep 2020
cowfrappecowfrappe
Rated 18 Nov 2018
76
78th
Quiet, sad, well-acted. Everything on screen seems truly natural.
Rated 18 Nov 2018
fredericg54frederic_g54
Rated 23 Mar 2018
7
58th
A simple and gentle film that lives and breathes in the here and now. Kelly Reichardt is my kind of filmmaker.
Rated 23 Mar 2018
dmcrimsonDMCrimson
Rated 11 Jun 2017
83
82nd
Not a complex or unexpected story but told exactly how it should be told.
Rated 11 Jun 2017
ronthedogronthedog
Rated 24 Sep 2016
80
46th
Decent slice of life stuff, although not sure how much there is to it ultimately.
Rated 24 Sep 2016
seethruskinSeethruskin
Rated 04 Jun 2016
5
81st
I had to love this since my dog's name is Lucy
Rated 04 Jun 2016
itbspodcastITBSPodcast
Rated 14 Dec 2015
100
0th
"Are there any alternatives possible?" http://illusionpodcast.blogspot.com/2015/12/episode-83-rise-of-kelly-reichardt-1994.html
Rated 14 Dec 2015
syntaxerrorsyntaxerror
Rated 03 Dec 2015
9
76th
Fuck :/
Rated 03 Dec 2015
caimancaiman
Rated 20 Nov 2015
75
48th
Simple and understated, much like real life. And that's exactly what this movie feels like - a series of real events happening to a real person. When a film successfully depicts characters and life events in a naturalistic way, then even the simplest events can seem profound. The fact that I nearly cried watching this is testament to that.
Rated 20 Nov 2015
lukejmillerlukejmiller
Rated 02 Mar 2015
45
26th
Michelle Williams is terrific, but there is not enough material to justify a full length feature
Rated 02 Mar 2015
nilooravaeinilooravaei
Rated 25 Dec 2013
72
18th
was not a fan of this film. it was just so bland and boring. i could talk a lot about how it disappointed in all realms but it would be a waste of time - it just felt like such a stereotypically "female" film - and i'm not saying that from an anti-feminist perspective. i think women are brighter and more dynamic than reichardt would like to believe. but that's just my opinion.
Rated 25 Dec 2013
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 24 Oct 2013
75
84th
Better than Umberto D.
Rated 24 Oct 2013
ag0stomesmerAg0stoMesmer
Rated 12 Feb 2013
4
91st
So caught up with young Wendy that I didn't see some things coming, well done.
Rated 12 Feb 2013
ecitizeneCitizen
Rated 08 Dec 2012
30
17th
While I absolutely love Michele Williams, she is cute and beautiful but this movie seems pointless. The story is too weak, too thin and too simple to entertain or engage the viewer. I wanted to love this film, but it just never delivers.
Rated 08 Dec 2012
stevekimesstevekimes
Rated 12 Sep 2012
98
99th
The movie that hits closest to home. Not only was it located in Portland, my home town, but it deals with a woman on the edge of homelessness. Powerful.
Rated 12 Sep 2012
thedicemanTheDiceman
Rated 21 Jun 2012
75
89th
Excellent.
Rated 21 Jun 2012
elysian_airElysian Air
Rated 08 Mar 2012
68
30th
A simple, but effective, story about a wandering girl and her dog. Nothing too special or interesting going on, but that makes it more idyllically charming. The simplicity of the story is what makes it most appealing to me, plus I can somewhat relate with the drifting theme. And the fact that Michelle Williams looks pretty hot with short hair goes a long way too.
Rated 08 Mar 2012
myfavchordsmyfavchords
Rated 15 Dec 2011
85
89th
Michelle Williams gives a great, realistic performance in this film. The plot is simple yet it really hits home. The performance by Michelle Williams really makes you care about her character and her dog Lucy.
Rated 15 Dec 2011
auhasarderikauhasarderik
Rated 02 Oct 2011
7
61st
Finely observed piece of realism.
Rated 02 Oct 2011
alex_watkinsAlex Watkins
Rated 10 Jun 2011
3
38th
An unassuming, matter-of-fact portrait of life on society's fringes. It's almost comically unfettered, but that helps it avoid the pitfalls of romanticizing Wendy's plight and Michelle Williams' performance is more than up to the task of carrying the film.
Rated 10 Jun 2011
nothingsgoodNothingsGood
Rated 20 Apr 2011
5
3rd
Best sleep aid ever.
Rated 20 Apr 2011
wwallce4prezWWallce4prez
Rated 31 Mar 2011
70
46th
Seen it before, but the last 10 minutes are pretty beautiful. Not quite sure if I buy the allegories that many are proposing, but if they are the intent then I would probably take back the nice thoughts I had about the film. Its a simple and tragic story...the end.
Rated 31 Mar 2011
slantmagSlantMag
Rated 17 Oct 2010
35
90th
"Though it doesn't feature Old Joy's Air America radio call-in Greek chorus, Kelly Reichardt's follow-up Wendy and Lucy is nonetheless a somber politicized lament for hardscrabble lives struggling to exist on the economic precipice." - Nick Schager
Rated 17 Oct 2010
kasperlKasperL
Rated 14 Mar 2010
70
65th
Williams: very strong , patience: required
Rated 14 Mar 2010
pigletPiglet
Rated 11 Jan 2010
75
79th
I liked it, but you'd be wise not to get to hung-up in the decision-making of Wendy.
Rated 11 Jan 2010
totoroTotoro.
Rated 28 Aug 2009
85
82nd
Simple and effective.
Rated 28 Aug 2009
indicamIndicam
Rated 03 Aug 2009
70
63rd
Certainly one of the more realistic films I've seen recently. The ending killed me.
Rated 03 Aug 2009
timmotimmo
Rated 03 Aug 2009
50
10th
Michelle Williams is an astoundingly amazing actress. I did not enjoy this script, though. I'm sure a lot of people might love it, but I didn't get much out of the film. Short enough to keep it from being intolerable, though.
Rated 03 Aug 2009
vandelay1Vandelay1
Rated 20 Jun 2009
67
71st
Good Movie
Rated 20 Jun 2009
erikstronkserikstronks
Rated 29 May 2009
45
3rd
Slechte film. Boordevol clichés en slecht geacteerd.
Rated 29 May 2009
ndotsndots
Rated 20 May 2009
25
1st
Okay... allegory for the american economy? Being an allegory doesnt make it a genious movie. Compared to this any movie that can keep you awake is genious. The most boring, uncomfortable and annoying film ever. . ... LUCY!
Rated 20 May 2009
chemical404chemical404
Rated 19 May 2009
78
93rd
Little film with a big heart. One of the year's best.
Rated 19 May 2009
roujinroujin
Rated 10 May 2009
60
55th
good script!
Rated 10 May 2009
qvtQVT
Rated 09 May 2009
40
48th
Can't shake the fact that it's boring. The performances are all excellent though, especially Lucy. I was moved by her plight and how she wanted the stick, and she'd go get it but then that bitch wendy would take it through superior use of thumb and throw it again.
Rated 09 May 2009
slweeslwee
Rated 26 Apr 2009
75
54th
Not quite what I was expecting. All the time I was trying to put myself in her predicament, so the film was quite an experience for me.
Rated 26 Apr 2009
anomalyAnomaly
Rated 16 Apr 2009
71
51st
I feel like this has all been done before in other films I've seen, and it does drag throughout the middle, but there is some emotional resonance in the ending.
Rated 16 Apr 2009
astrakhanastrakhan
Rated 15 Apr 2009
83
89th
A very powerful and moving piece. When you have next to nothing it's too easy to lose everything - that's what we find out through the travails of a courageous girl who struggles to keep afloat in an unforgiving and dangerous world. It's easy to sympathise with the fragility of this tragic/romantic character, brilliantly portrayed by Williams. Reichardt's pacing and simple naturalistic filming style are perfect for this. I found the story heart-rending without ever being manipulative or forced.
Rated 15 Apr 2009
empiremagempiremag
Rated 31 Mar 2009
4
71st
"Recasting the "girl and her dog" adventure as a snap-shot of national depression, this could well be the most affecting American drama of the year."
Rated 31 Mar 2009
hahaHaha
Rated 23 Mar 2009
91
83rd
Subtle, realistic. Beautiful, heartbreaking. Wendy and Lucy is all of this with a knockout perf from Michelle Williams. Reichardt is a director to treasure.
Rated 23 Mar 2009
jkendrickj.kendrick
Rated 21 Mar 2009
35
86th
"...a small, spare, and genuinely beautiful film..."
Rated 21 Mar 2009
mlightle3mlightle3
Rated 18 Mar 2009
87
74th
Very powerful and moving, while depressing. I never really feel sympathy for Wendy, because she's an idiot, but the movie is beautiful and sad. Worth seeing once.
Rated 18 Mar 2009
dtiDTI
Rated 11 Mar 2009
40
2nd
Immediately after seeing this movie I described it as "objectively worse than the holocaust." That was wrong of me, and I recant, but it's certainly more boring than the holocaust. It's about a boring woman who is going to Alaska for some reason and she loses her dog because she's poor, and finding it is difficult... because she's poor. The majority of lines consist of her calling her dog's name. At one point there is a shot of some seagulls. The seagulls symbolize freedom. A terrible film.
Rated 11 Mar 2009
stainStain
Rated 19 Jan 2009
80
68th
Some of the folks in the cast are working professionals, but mostly this is yet another movie heavily influenced by the no-budget-is-a-style approach of the Italian Neorealists. _The Dog Thief_, if you will. Wendy doesn't seem to be real smart. I kept thinking of other bits of leverage that I'd apply to her problems if I was as broke and luckless as her. Nonetheless, there's always something to be said for this minimalist approach to a very simple story. It just... somehow... works
Rated 19 Jan 2009
evnEv@n
Rated 28 Dec 2008
34
22nd
Horrible movie. I'm so sick of the "plotless movies with long periods of silence that result in an abrupt ending because do to the lack of plot, there's no other way to end it besides having it just... end" type of films. They're annoying and pointless, but people like them because they're supposedly fantastic films if you know what you're talking about / are a film buff. It's just bs, and liking these pos's doesn't make you a film buff, sorry to say. Grade: D Plus
Rated 28 Dec 2008

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