The film Wendy and Lucy, directed by Kelly Reichardt, presents a sparse narrative. The film has been criticized for its lack of a background story, and as a short film, much of the story is left for the viewer to infer from what is presented in the plot. However, Wendy and Lucy is able to depict the intimate relationship between Wendy and her dog, reflect more broadly on the everyday, and comment on the current economic state of the film's setting in America. This essay will examine how the cinematic form contributes to the viewer's awareness of Wendy and Lucy's story and allows for a deeper understanding of the themes presented. Aspects of directing, filming, editing and sound of the film will be explored. Elements of direction in Wendy and Lucy help convey aspects of the story that are never explicitly expressed in the film's narrative. . Wendy and Lucy don't present much information about the story. For example, the scene where Wendy calls her brother may cause some viewers to question their strained relationship and its role in Wendy's current financial situation. Furthermore, Wendy's financial situation is never really mentioned in the film, it is only implied, but the viewer is always aware of it. Facets of direction help convey information that fills in the gaps left in the story. Kolker defines the concept of mise-en-scène as a means of “explaining how images, through composition, camera movement, lighting, focus and color, generate a narrative event and guide our perception through a film” (Kolker 1998, p.17). . An essential element of staging is the setting and settings. Wendy and Lucy is presented in an entirely naturalistic setting. The small town that Wendy travels through provides the first...... middle of paper ...... helps convey this story and present themes and motifs central to understanding the film. Direction, filming and editing, as well as sound are some of these elements. The cinematic form of Wendy and Lucy contributes strongly to the feeling of realism that it leaves with the viewer. Works Cited Bordwell David and Thompson, Kristen. The art of cinema: an introduction. 8th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008. Corrigan, Timothy and White, Patricia. The Cinematic Experience: An Introduction. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin, 2004. Kolker, Robert. Film, form and culture. 3rd ed. New York; McGraw-Hill, 2006. Lehman, Peter and Luhr, William. Thinking about films: watching, questioning, enjoying. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell, 2003. Reichardt, Kelly (director), Raymond, John and Reichardt, Kelly (writers), Williams, Michelle and Robinson, John (performances). 2008. Oscilloscope Images, 2009. DVD