Movie: Maudie

Maudie: a film based on the Canadian artist Maud Lewis.  The film commences during the mid-1930’s.  The location is Nova Scotia.  Maud (Sally Hawkins) is in her early 30’s and lives with her Aunt Ida (Gabrielle Rose) but wants to return to the family home.  Maud sees her brother and only sibling, Charles (Zachary Bennett), speaking with Ida.  She begins pestering Charles about returning home.  We learn from Charles’ remarks that Maud has a disability which, in Charles’ view, renders Maud incapable of caring for herself.  Charles tells Maud he sold the family home and leaves.  As the film unfolds, we learn more details about Maud.  Contrary to the impression we’re given by Charles, Maud’s disability is physical, not mental; she has rheumatoid arthritis.  To escape from the control of Aunt Ida, Maud takes a job as a housekeeper to a loner named Everett Lewis (Ethan Hawke).  Everett grew up in a male orphanage.  He has a temper and lacks basic social skills.  With these two very different characters, director Aisling Walsh weaves an entertaining and surprisingly romantic tale based upon the screenplay by Sherry White.  The 116- minute film works because of the Oscar quality performances of Sally Hawkins and Ethan Hawke.  From the outset, it is obvious that Maud has grit and will somehow prevail.  Everett grows on you.  Based upon very quick and selected shots of the real Maud and Everett at the end of the film, you learn that Maud was far more handicapped than she is portrayed, which makes her success as a painter that much more remarkable.  The film shows Maud painting for the sheer pleasure it brings her.  The postcard size pictures are noticed by a summer resident from New York named Sandra (Kari Matchett).  Although the film does not offer details, we learn that Maud’s drawings are becoming well known, presumably through Sandra.   Maud’s fame explodes.  Even Vice President Richard Nixon contacts Maud by mail asking to purchase one of her pictures.  The film takes you up to the time of Maud’s death in 1970.  As the film credits run, her paintings are shown.  The characters’ lives are hard but they endure.  The film may treat Everett more kindly than he actually was, but as you watch the relationship between Everett and Maud grow, the story becomes inspirational.  The opening of the film is a bit weak, however,  if you stay with it, you will be rewarded.  This film has no special effects and can easily be enjoyed at home with a bottle of wine.