Wendy and Lucy

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.

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.

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.

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.

Fuck, why did I just subject myself to that?