# Wendy and Lucy

Wendy and Lucy is a 2008 American drama film directed by Kelly Reichardt. Reichardt and Jon Raymond adapted the screenplay from his short story "Train Choir". The film stars Michelle Williams as Wendy, a homeless woman who searches for her lost dog, Lucy (played by Reichardt's own dog of that name, who had previously appeared in Old Joy). It had its world premiere at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival and was screened at several additional film festivals before receiving a limited theatrical release in the United States on December 10, 2008.

## Plot

A young woman, Wendy Carroll, is traveling to Alaska with her dog Lucy, where she hopes to find work at a cannery. They become stranded in Oregon when their car breaks down, and she lacks the funds to repair it. At a supermarket, she leaves Lucy outside while she attempts to shoplift dog food. After a meeting with the store clerk and the manager, Wendy is apprehended and taken to the police station.
After paying a fine, Wendy is released from police custody. She hurries to the grocery store, but Lucy is gone. After many failed efforts to find Lucy her, with the help of a security guard, Wendy discovers that she has been taken to a dog pound and rehomed.
Wendy learns her car needs to be rebuilt and abandons it. Nearly penniless, Wendy goes to the home where Lucy lives. She tearfully promises to return and departs on a northbound train.

## Cast

* Michelle Williams as Wendy Carroll
* Walter Dalton as Security guard
* Will Patton as Mechanic
* Larry Fessenden as man in Park
* Will Oldham as Icky
* John Robinson as Andy Mooney
* Deirdre O'Connell (voice) as Deb
* Lucy as herself

## Release
### Box office

In its opening weekend, Wendy and Lucy grossed $18,218 in 2 theaters in the United States, ranking #54 at the box office. By the end of its run, Wendy and Lucy grossed $865,695 domestically and $326,960 internationally for a worldwide total of $1,192,655.

### Critical reception

The film has received generally positive reviews from critics. On the review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an 85% approval rating among 185 critics, with an average score of 7.4/10. The site's consensus reads "Michelle Williams gives a heartbreaking performance in Wendy and Lucy, a timely portrait of loneliness and struggle". On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 80 out of 100, based on 32 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". The film won both Best Picture and Best Actress at the 12th Toronto Film Critics Association Awards.

## Accolades

| Award | Category | Outcome |
| American Film Institute Awards 2008 | Movie Of The Year | Won |
| Alliance of Women Film Journalists 2008 |
| Alliance of Women Film Journalists 2008 | EDA Award, Best Actress for Michelle Williams | Nominated |
| Alliance of Women Film Journalists 2008 | EDA Female Focus Award, Best Director for Kelly Reichardt | Nominated |
| Alliance of Women Film Journalists 2008 | EDA Female Focus Award, Best Screenwriter for Kelly Reichardt | Nominated |
| Cannes Film Festival 2008 | Palm Dog Award for Lucy | Won |
| Cannes Film Festival 2008 | Un Certain Regard for Kelly Reichardt | Nominated |
| Chicago International Film Festival 2008 | Gold Hugo for Best Feature | Nominated |
| Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film | Best Actress for Michelle Williams Best Director for Kelly Reichardt | Nominated |
| Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards 2008 | Russell Smith Award for Kelly Reichardt | Won |
| Gijón International Film Festival | Grand Prix Asturias, Best Film | Nominated |
| Independent Spirit Awards 2009 | Best Feature | Nominated |
| Independent Spirit Awards 2009 | Best Female Lead for Michelle Williams | Nominated |
| International Cinephile Society Awards 2008 | Best Adapted Screenplay for Kelly Reichardt Best Adapted Screenplay for Jonathan Raymond | Won |
| International Cinephile Society Awards 2008 | Best Actress for Michelle Williams | Nominated |
| National Board of Review Awards 2008 | Top Independent Feature | Won |
| Online Film Critics Society Awards 2008 | Best Actress for Michelle Williams | Won |
| Toronto Film Critics Association Awards 2008 | Best Female Performance for Michelle Williams | Won |
| Toronto Film Critics Association Awards 2008 | Best Picture for Kelly Reichardt | Won |