Watch Wanda

Wanda, directed by and starring Barbara Loden, is a 1970 independent drama film that explores the life of a woman named Wanda who is struggling to find meaning in her life. The film begins with Wanda's divorce hearing, where she barely pays attention to the proceedings and seems to be disconnected from her own life. Wanda is a woman who does not seem to have a plan or a direction in life. She is aimless, passive, and drifts from one situation to the next. After the divorce hearing, she goes to a bar and drinks heavily. There, she meets a man named Mr. Dennis, who is also lost in life and looking for direction. He is a small-time crook who has just robbed a bank and is on the run from the police.

Wanda and Mr. Dennis embark on a journey together, with Wanda following Mr. Dennis blindly, hoping that he will give her some direction in life. They travel through the bleak and desolate landscape of Pennsylvania, stopping at various locations, including diners and motels. Mr. Dennis treats Wanda badly, and their relationship is based on mutual exploitation. He makes her sleep in the car, steal food, and even shoplift.

Throughout the movie, Wanda is constantly belittled and taken advantage of by those around her. She is a woman who has nothing and is treated as such. Her life is a hopeless cycle of drinking, menial labor, and abuse. She seems resigned to her situation, making little effort to escape the cycle of poverty and abuse she is trapped in.

The film is shot in a documentary style, and the camera follows Wanda in a detached manner, providing a sense of realism to the story. The film's gritty tone and naturalistic performances make it feel like a snapshot of a bleak and miserable existence. Loden's direction is understated, allowing the performances and the setting to create a sense of despair and hopelessness.

Barbara Loden's performance in the lead role is remarkable. She embodies Wanda's sense of detachment and resignation with quiet power, never overplaying a scene or making it seem like an act. She captures the essence of a woman who has given up on life and is just waiting for something to happen to her.

The supporting cast is also excellent, particularly Michael Higgins as Mr. Dennis, who is all charm and cruelty, and Dorothy Shupenes as a kind-hearted waitress who takes pity on Wanda but cannot help her escape her situation.

The film's ending is open-ended and ambiguous, leaving the viewer to draw their own conclusions about Wanda's fate. The film suggests that there is no hope for a woman like Wanda, that her life is destined to be one of misery and abuse. The film is an unflinching portrayal of the realities of poverty and powerlessness, a seminal work of American independent cinema.

In conclusion, Wanda is a powerful and affecting film, made even more remarkable by the fact that it was written, directed, and starred in by a woman at a time when women were still struggling for equal representation in the film industry. Loden's portrayal of Wanda is both empathetic and unsentimental, and the film's stark, naturalistic style makes it feel like a haunting snapshot of a life forgotten by society. Wanda is a film that stays with you long after the credits have rolled.

Wanda is a 1970 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1.