An intimate character study, 2016’s Maudie, written by Sherry White and directed by Aisling Walsh, fuses familial drama with Canadian East Coast humour.
Beginning in the 1930’s, the story is based on the real life of Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis – the titular character is brought to vivid life by the ultra-talented Sally Hawkins. Born with a bad case of juvenile arthritis, Lewis is a woman of strong will due to her affliction. With a bad limp, awkward disposition and secret from her past, she is seen by the community at large as being different. . . also, a stain upon their family according to her holier-than-thou Aunt Ida (Gabrielle Rose) and overly patriarchal brother, Charles Dowley (Zachary Bennett). One example of his ways – he sells off their parents’ home soon after their death without even telling his sister beforehand.
Tired of the tyrannical treatment, she looks for a means of escape. Seeing a gruff, rough-around-the-edges man, Everett Lewis (Ethan Hawke), post a job notice for a house cleaner in the local general store, she quickly nabs the paper – making the long trek to his off-the-beaten-track home.
Also socially awkward, her initial meeting with the man in his diminutive shack is rather unusual. The fishmonger, who also works a number of other odd jobs, eventually gives her the position, around the same time as she is kicked out of her aunt’s home. Becoming the live-in maid for Everett, he is a rigid taskmaster – a sometimes abusive man who expects her to keep her mouth shut and get her work done, is not the easiest thing for the saucy, East Coast woman.
With rather irregular sleeping conditions (living in the smallest of quarters, she is forced to share the bed with her employer), it is not the most elegant of positions. Maud turns to art to pass the time – painting the flowers, landscapes and animals she knows and loves.
Soon, a New York socialite, Sandra (Kari Matchett), a visitor to the area for the summer, takes interest in her artwork after stopping by the home with a complaint about her employer. Paying her for her postcard sized works, Maud begins to focus more on her art than the household tasks she was hired for.
Eventually, Maud is able to convince Everett to marry her. Returning to their humble abode, they dance together – a touching scene in which the fragile Maud stands on her new husband’s feet as they slowly turn on the same spot. Their relationship is perfectly encapsulated by the loving wife, as she quietly exclaims, “we’re like a pair of odd socks”.
It is an interesting thing – as her career grows, the power dynamic within the household begins to change. As Maud now brings in decent money, Everett slowly begins to be put in his place, taking over many of the day to day chores, allowing her to focus on her craft. Leaving for the summer, Sandra commissions a larger work, paying her five dollars as well as leaving another buck for shipping.
Soon, she is getting letters from Vice President Richard Nixon looking to procure a piece of her work. Television stations pick up on the tale, visiting their home and interviewing her, capturing her unique charm as well as the art that lines the walls of their tiny residence.
Though, with her growing fame, Everett grows disgruntled, as the community sees him as a cold, unkind individual. Her ungrateful family also starts to creep back into her life, for multiple reasons. Will Maud and Everett be able to stay united in spite of her newfound role as local celebrity? Will she be able to stay the course as her family reveal secrets and attempt to weasel their way back into her life?
A story about finding your passion and niche in life, Maud is an inspiration for the artist inside all of us. A caring, larger than life persona in the most feeble of bodies, her spirit shines through, depicted in her simple yet charming works of folk art. Her optimistic outlook, even in the most simplistic of settings, is infectious. When she is met with bone-chilling revelations later on in the picture, she still finds hope, passion and joy in her life, her husband and her art.
Echoing Maud’s creativity in the making of this independent project, the filmmakers decided to painstakingly recreate her lilliputian home, building it from scratch. At a minuscule 10 x 12 feet, they accurately recreated the shack, making small adjustments for the cameras and other set needs. Likewise, they found perfect locations in Newfoundland that depict the harsh winters and beautiful summers of Nova Scotia – a choice they had to make for financial reasons. The varied seasons and picturesque landscape is vital to the story, as it is this that influences Maud and her work.
At its heart, this film is about its two leads. Though both of these characters are simple, basic folks, the dynamic within their relationship is not. They feed off of each other, learning life lessons along the way. Hawke’s Everett, a rough and tumble individual, finds grace and warmth in his artistic, caring wife. He is a flawed man, like we all are, but he slowly grows over time under the care of his beloved lady. Hawkins’ portrayal of Maud is richly nuanced. Capturing her troublesome limp, pained hands and shy, quirky smirk to perfection, she depicts a woman that was written off so many times in her life. A true underdog story, it is her sticktoitiveness and joyful essence that helps her to find success and pleasure in everything she does.
A beautifully built character piece, Maudie is a moving dramedy that paints a refined picture of the life of artist Maud Lewis. Featuring wonderful performances from Hawkins and Hawke, simple yet effective direction, and a striking setting, this motion picture is definitely worth seeing. So, discover the secret that is this little Irish/Canadian co-production, it is where art imitates life.