Wendy and Lucy (2008)

A woman's life is derailed en route to a potentially lucrative summer job. When her car breaks down, and her dog is taken to the pound, the thin fabric of her financial situation comes ... See full summary »

Director:

Kelly Reichardt

Writers:

Jonathan Raymond, Jonathan Raymond (story),

Stars:

Michelle Williams, Lucy, David Koppell

7 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michelle Williams	...	Wendy
Lucy	...	Lucy the Dog
David Koppell	...	Kid by Fire
Max Clement	...	Kid by Fire
Sid Shanley	...	Kid by Fire
Dave Hubner	...	Kid by Fire
Michelle Worthey	...	Sadie
Will Oldham	...	Icky
Wally Dalton	...	Security Guard (as Walter Dalton)
Roger D. Faires	...	Recycler in Wheelchair (as Roger Faires)
Boggs Johnson	...	Recycling Man
Tanya Smith	...	Grocery Checker
Michael Brophy	...	Grocery Store Stocker
John Robinson	...	Andy
John Breen	...	Mr. Hunt

Storyline

A woman's life is derailed en route to a potentially lucrative summer job. When her car breaks down, and her dog is taken to the pound, the thin fabric of her financial situation comes apart, and she is led through a series of increasingly dire economic decisions.

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Plot Keywords:

dog | car | wall clock | brushing teeth | freeway | 

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Taglines:

On the long road, friendship is everything.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 March 2009 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

Train Choir

Filming Locations:

Portland, Oregon, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$200,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$18,218 (USA) (12 December 2008)

Gross:

$856,942 (USA) (24 April 2009)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Field Guide Films, Film Science, Glass Eye Pix

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Michelle Williams did not shave her legs or clean her fingernails during filming. After filming completed, Williams' friend Busy Philipps treated her to a manicure and pedicure.

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Quotes

Andy: [after catching her for shoplifting] The food is not the issue. It's about setting an example, right?
Wendy: Sir, I'm not from around here. I can't be an example.

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Connections

Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Wolverine/Ghosts of Girlfriends Past/Battle for Terra (2009)

User Reviews

a quiet little gem.

Man, I'm a sucker for this kind of picture. Realism. A movie about real people, in real situations, just like you and me. No frills, no fantasy, no flash. It's not that I don't like movies with these elements in them; It's that a prefer movies without them. I like Michelle Williams without the make-up - just a waif caught in a tough situation in a generic Americana setting. It looks like a small town, but I see the credits say it's Portland Oregon.

I'm also a sucker for trains, so I loved all the train shots. Is there a symbolism to the trains? Funny how many times a forlorn train horn is heard nearby, punctuating the quiet desperation of Wendy's plight. I loved the security guy (Wally Dalton) - he shows us there's hope no matter what the situation.....there really is always someone who cares. I sure hope Wendy makes it to Alaska; she deserves to.

For those who like this one, you'll like a similar movie I viewed just a few days previous; it has a similar pace, and feel as this one, and a storyline with a little more tension: "Frozen River". Catch it if you can.