Maudie

Tropic Sprockets by Ian Brockway

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Directed by Aisling Walsh (BBC TV’s Fingersmith) “Maudie,” tells the artist’s story of Maud, an introverted Nova Scotian folk painter who happened to have rheumatoid arthritis and painted as if her life depended on it, mostly during the 1930s, 40s and early 1950s.

Sally Hawkins takes the title role and she completely inhabits this intense person who comes across as painfully shy, yet able to fire very funny and sarcastic replies, often under the breath.

Ethan Hawke is Everett Lewis, a gruff and somewhat bitter fishmonger who advertises for a housekeeper at a local store and finds Maud, replying to the ad in person.

The stoic and taciturn Everett is not interested in hiring Maud who is, presumably to him, not physically able to handle the job. Everett is mean and quite violent to Maud at times, slapping her in the face when she comically tells Everett’s friend that they live “cozy” together. 

Despite the violence and the verbal abuse that Everett delivers, a prickly rapport develops between them with Mr. Lewis doing all the prickish behavior. 

Everett and Maud decide to get married and live in poverty in a small shabby hut without electricity. Everett is said to have encouraged the artist to paint, but there is little evidence of this in the film. Everett dismisses Maud’s painting and grows resentful of the new attention that she recieves through a stylish New Yorker, Sandra (Kari Matchett).

Hawkins greatly lifts the film up with a bit of verve and fine understatement. To its credit, the film is well handled in what could have been a melodramatic or overly sentimental story. Hawkins doesn’t play Maud as a victim, or a poor soul. Maud is an artist and a person, no more, no less.

The actual painting work by itself is wonderful to see and one almost wishes for more.  The scenes of Labrador Canada are striking and formidable. The setting alone is a character.

Though the story is conventional and the drama grim: the embattled artist painting on in harsh conditions. Sally Hawkins’s Maud shines through the invariably gray environment, all color and heart. 

Balanced against Sally Hawkins’s absorbing performance, Ethan Hawke might seem a bit flat, but his stern silence is completely on key and he never misses a step or a scowl.

While not for anyone expecting an  uplifting story about art or painting, “Maudie” is an authentic story portraying the life of Maud and Everett Lewis with all of the pushes and pulls within their odd and often melancholic relationship.

Write Ian at ianfree1@yahoo.com