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Kelly Reichardt follows up her excellent 2006 film Old Joy with this beautiful and heartbreaking film that shares much of the same minimalist style and social reflections. With Wendy and Lucy, Reichardt takes us in even closer emotionally and it is amazing how much she achieves with such a simplistic touch. Simple yet carefully made the film makes great use of its location (Pacific Northwest) and its parallel tracking shots (which contrast each other in the opening and closing of the film). Michelle Williams is nothing short of superb as a vulnerable woman caught in the devastating realities of poverty in American society. To see Williams and witness her joy, hope, sadness, fears, and uncertainty effortlessly converge without sentiment in the final moments is truly a masterful performance. Wally Dalton gives a touching performance as the security guard who befriends Wendy, and of course it is also a pleasure to see Old Joy collaborators Will Oldham and Lucy the dog (played by Reichardt's own dog) return, as well as an effectively creepy cameo by cult horror director Larry Fessenden. Wendy and Lucy is a simplistic film with real unforced texture. I found it beautiful and heartbreaking!
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