Yet another movie that is off-putting is a Canadian film, Maudie, which tells the story of how shy, introverted Maud Lewis (Sally Hawkins) boldly moves out on her own, hires herself out as a cleaning woman to a grumpy fisherman (Ethan Hawke) and keeps her sanity by painting. Eventually Maud’s (she is never referred to as “Maudie,” which tells me the movie distributor hopes to make the film seem friendlier by adding the diminutive suffix) paintings make her a celebrity of not just local, but international, renown.
Aisling Walsh’s film is about as dry and uncommercial as one can get; there’s less dialogue than in Clint Eastwood’s films (the ones where he barely speaks), while neither lead character has what one would term charm. Indeed, Everett Lewis (Hawke) is a scary, misogynistic bully. It is a wonder that anyone in the village will have anything to do with him, and Maud deserves a medal not just for putting up with him but for marrying and somewhat domesticating the brute. About halfway through the movie I noted to myself that I was not nearly as antisocial as Everett, so the movie did succeed in making me feel better about myself.
What saves Maud from going loco in Nova Scotia is her painting. A vacationer, Sandra (Kari Matchett), sees and likes her work and buys one, sending Maud on her career. Maud’s paintings are all simple scenes of birds and flowers and life as it ought to be, and they seem to resonate with people. I wish the film had made a stronger case for her artistic ability; aside from Sandra the only praise for Maud’s pictures comes from the fact that Nancy Reagan liked and bought them.
Where the film succeeds is showing how important painting is for Maud, even as she is wracked by arthritis and can barely hold her brush. Having something to keep her going is absolutely necessary, and Maud seems to have the same effect on Everett. Maudie depicts a mismatched pair living life in conditions that most viewers would term deplorable. Yet they find contentment, purpose and even love, because that is what people do, no matter how trying the circumstances. ☆ ☆ 1/2. 29 July 2017.