WENDY AND LUCY is a precisely observed portrait of life on the edge in America, where every dollar is measured and daily decisions are high drama. Director, co-writer and co-editor Kelly Reichardt trusts the simplicity of a well-plotted, emotional story to reach its audience, infusing this minimalist movie about a woman and her dog with quiet moments that do not beg for sympathy. Michelle Williams's heroic performance is the center of this powerful poem about friendship - what it is to care, to give and to let go - as the wail of a distant train calls for a better life.