Rent Wendy and Lucy (2008)
3.5 of 5 from 174 ratings
1h 20min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- Wendy (Michelle Williams), a young woman adrift in the world, is driving to Alaska in the hope of finding work. Her only companion is her dog, Lucy. When her car breaks down in small-town Oregon, her life quickly starts to unravel. Stranded, broke and friendless, she faces a series of increasingly painful choices. Reichardt's understated approach and Michelle Williams' quiet, touching performance combine to heart-breaking effect. Simple and direct, 'Wendy and Lucy' is a moving meditation on resilience, reflecting the precarious lives that society often chooses to ignore, and the love that sustains them.
- Actors:
- Michelle Williams, Lucy, David Koppell, Max Clement, Sid Shanley, Dave Hubner, Michelle Worthey, Will Oldham, Wally Dalton, Roger D. Faires, Boggs Johnson, Tanya Smith, Michael Brophy, John Robinson, John Breen, Deneb Catalan, Skeeter Greene, Marilyn Faith Hickey, Jeanine Jackson, Brenna Beardsley
- Directors:
- Kelly Reichardt
- Producers:
- Larry Fessenden, Neil Kopp, Anish Savjani
- Voiced By:
- Deirdre O'Connell, M. Blash
- Writers:
- Jonathan Raymond, Kelly Reichardt
- Aka:
- Train Choir
- Studio:
- Elevation
- Genres:
- Drama
- Collections:
- Award Winners, Films by Genre, Films to Watch If You Like..., Oscar Nominations Competition 2026, The Best American Road Movies, The Biggest Oscar Snubs: Part 2, The Instant Expert's Guide, The Instant Expert's Guide to Kelly Reichardt, The Instant Expert's Guide to Todd Haynes, Top 10 Palm Dog Winners, Top Films, What to Watch Next If You Liked Nomadland
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 22/09/2025
- Run Time:
- 80 minutes
- Languages:
- English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English LPCM Stereo
- Subtitles:
- English, English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.78:1 / 16:9
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- (0) All
- Bonus:
- Wendy and Lucy - An Appreciation: Filmmaker Andrea Luka Zimmerman and writer So Mayer discuss the film
- Trailer
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Reviews (2) of Wendy and Lucy
A poignant story which leaves unanswered questions. - Wendy and Lucy review by CP Customer
Wendy is a young woman in the early 20’s travelling on a limited budget from her hometown in Indiana to find work in the fishing canneries of Alaska. Living out of her 80’s Honda Accord with her dog Lucy, they stop off to spend the night in a small town in Oregon. While sleeping in a parking lot she is woken early in the morning by a security guard who tells her to move her car, but when she tries to drive away finds that it will not start. Waiting for the local garage to open and out of food for Lucy, she visits a local grocery store and makes a serious mistake by stealing dog food, which in turn sets off a chain of events which force her into many difficult decisions and situations. Essentially a snapshot into three days in the life of Wendy the film presents her as quite a hard character to empathise with, she’s guarded almost to the point of being self-centred, and although on a limited budget has enough money to buy dog food but chooses to steal it, and when offered unconditional help rarely thanks anyone. Though as the film presents her as this distant character the clever thing about ‘Wendy and Lucy’ is that it prompts you to think about her past, what events led up her to her journey, what makes her so insular, and even though she is this sometimes unlikeable character, as a viewer you still want her to succeed. Added to this the end of the film is not the end of the story, there's no knowing how Wendy’s life continues from the point the film leaves her, which leaves unanswered questions and emotions which hang in your mind long after the film ends. If you enjoy this you should also check out Director Kelly Reichardt's previous film 'Old Joy', the Duplass Brothers 'The Puffy Chair', and if they ever get a DVD release Aaron Katz excellent 'Quiet City' and 'Dance Party USA'.
7 out of 7 members found this review helpful.
Deeply Felt Storytelling - Wendy and Lucy review by griggs
Kelly Reichardt, a master of quiet, deeply felt storytelling, once again proves her prowess in Kelly and Lucy. Her signature restraint captures visual beauty and narrative trauma, allowing emotion to simmer beneath the surface rather than spelling it out. As Reichardt's muse, Michelle Williams delivers a performance that is nothing short of magnificent, embodying so much with just a glance or pause. It is obvious why Reichardt casts Williams time and time again. Reichardt's trust in her audience is evident—there's no spoon-feeding, no over-explaining, just raw, lived-in moments that hit hard. The film lingers in your mind, not because it shouts, but because it whispers, leaving space for you to feel every unspoken ache and fleeting joy.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.