Low budget independent film has critics ecstatic, ordinary movie-goers, not so much
BRISTOL - Critics from several blog sites and newspapers have been quick to heap praise on Kelly Reichardt’s second film, Wendy and Lucy after it was aired in Bristol’s Watershed cinema. Ordinary movie-goers however, have been scratching their collective heads for days after the screening, wondering where the fuck their £6.50 price of admission just went.
The linear narrative of the film follows Wendy, a poverty struck woman who’s car breaks down somewhere in Oregon as she travels to Alaska, in the hope of making ends meet. After walking around for a bit, she loses her canine companion Lucy, and then spends the better part of an hour wandering around scenic locations looking for her.
A walk in the park: for some, this film certainly was not
“The real beauty of the film is in witnessing first hand the destructive nature of poverty, and how easy it is to fall into” wrote Sundance reviewer Bart Legerstein. Peter Bradshaw of the Guardian goes as far as to describe the film as having ”reticent performance, cultured, poignant dialogue, stonewashed colour photography and plain [and most importantly] sans-serif lettering on the credits.”
“Judging by the title I thought it was going to be lesbians”, mused musician Aaron Thomas, whilst swigging a pint of lager after the screening. “At worst a pillow fight or mud wrestle.”
The Watershed has a reputation for appealing more to the bohemian, sandle-wearing, performance poetry writing individual, and has refused to refund angry viewers of their admission fee, acknowledging that; “When people come [to the watershed] they’d better expect to be served by people who make their own clothes and watch films that can nullify someone with ADD.”
“I didn’t realise they made films four hours long,” suggested comic book enthusiast Tim. “I thought I’d entered a blackhole.”
Wendy and Lucy closes on Monday, and is in fact 80 minutes in duration.
Comments
By Latino2105 on April 30th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
i loved this film! :$ i know its only a piss take but the scenery does add to Wendy’s grwoing isolation and destress. You haven’t mentioned the ending either, which is awfully sad.
By Admin on April 30th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
^^ Way to give away the ending!
By Rossatron on April 30th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
I agree about low budget movies. there are some classics. this one doesn’t cut it. i think judging by the article that i’d like Aaron Thomas, whoever he is.
By dave on April 30th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
I like Wendy and Lucy
By Rossatron on May 1st, 2009 at 9:56 am
[Dave]
Do you go out much?
By birdie9or11 on May 2nd, 2009 at 11:14 am
I have not seen the film, but these posts are normally for people who know nothing about the topic.
Latino that is not how to spell distress, unless you actually meant destress. By judging the article and other comments you probably did not. Besides this it even underlines the word in red if it is spelt wrong. However it has just underline spelt (twice).
Anyway I quite like art, but get a bit frustrated when artsy types praise something so highly and then are condescending towards those who can’t or don’t make up as much speculative shit as the critics.
An example, Picasso had a blue period because he only had blue paint not because he was lonely or sad or anxious or depressed or cold. For God’s sake he was loaded and the coolest guy in his day so he would not have been anxious, depressed lonely etc.. and definitely not cold (even though he was a Spaniard in the much colder France).
Conclusion: Less condescending speculation; if something is shit it is shit let’s not dig into this shit to find a tenuous significant meaning.
By fishsticks on May 3rd, 2009 at 7:25 am
Great post, hope there are some watershedders reading this! I got ripped off by them when I saw Azur and Azmar - THE WORST FILM IN THE WORLD! Left after 15 mins, and they refused to give any kind of refund.
Looks almost as boring as that russian story about some old woman who came to give some soldiers kisses and mince pies.
By gay and proud (ish) on May 12th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
^^ i believe the film in question is “Alexandreta” or something. if you went to see it, i suggest you get beaten. the trailer looked awful, as well as creepy.
love and huggies.
By rossatron on May 12th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
i agree with birdie. and i believe his final line emphasises what the piece is about - don’t go looking for stuff just cos you think there is some stuff there. and don’t hate on simpletons who only like transformers and films where shit gets blown up.
By gay and proud (ish) on May 12th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Just re-read your comment fishsticks. obviously you haven’t seen the mince pie movie. so apologies for suggesting you might be beaten. never seen azur and azmar. not gonna now on the basis of your experience