Movie Review: Wendy and Lucy

03/12/2009 21:52

Weighing in at a mere 80 minutes, “Wendy and Lucy” is a great example of lean, economical, effective filmmaking. Based on a short story by co-screenwriter Jonathan Raymond, the film shares many traits of well-written prose. Every sentence/shot counts. Filler word/shots are excised. Each scene is like a new paragraph, building on the last, no rambling detours. There is no attempt to introduce subplots, or serve as a metaphor for larger issues such as homelessness or poverty. Director Kelly Reichardt’s intent is to tell one story, and one story only, that of a homeless — seemingly directionless — young woman as she struggles to survive on the road, accompanied by her dog. There may be metaphors to be drawn through watching the story unfold, but it is up to the audience to discover them. This is not a “message” film.
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