Barbara Loden was one of the great actresses of Brodway in the sixties. In film, she appeared in supporting roles in her husband Elia Kazan’s WILD RIVER and SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS. Working with a low budget and a small crew she made WANDA – one of the greatest films of it’s kind in it’s day and ours. WANDA is a haunting portrait of small town American life, and has a leading performance by the director worthy of Gena Rowlands in John Cassavetes’ films but this film doesn’t feel American. It has a poetic rhythm and feel for everyday life that’s closer to Truffaut’s Les 400 Coups or a film by Antonioni or Bertolucci. This is a deeply sad film but because of it’s great beauty and truth, it’s not in the least bit depressing.