Overview
A poignant tale of resilience and love unfolds through the eyes of a woman who refuses to be defined by her disability.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- melancholic
- empathetic
- tender
- quiet evening
- historical drama night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Sally Hawkins’s deeply empathetic performance, Ethan Hawke’s committed supporting work, and the film’s warm photography while noting that the screenplay only skims the complexity of Maud Lewis’s life and art.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Maud Lewis creates distinctive folk-art paintings despite disability, poverty, and social marginalization.
Maud decorates the small house and paints cards with bright, happy images that express her inner vision.
Everett controls Maud through gruffness and beatings while her growing artistic recognition offers a path toward independence.
The story unfolds in rural Nova Scotia, where Maud works and lives in Everett’s impoverished fish seller’s home.
Films like Maudie, and why
The Theory of Everything
shared biographical drama, rural isolation, disability, and a woman’s struggle for artistic independence
Frida
shared intimate period drama, difficult marriage, painter protagonist, and restrained emotional power
Pollock
shared artist biopic, romantic tension, emotional abuse, and attention to visual art
Bright Star
shared historical romance, working-class hardship, and a compassionate focus on an overlooked woman
Movie Details
- Director
- Aisling Walsh
- Release Date
- 2016-06-16
- Runtime
- 115 min
- Rating
- 7.8 / 10 (608)
Cast
- Sally Hawkins
- Ethan Hawke
- Gabrielle Rose
- Billy MacLellan
- Zachary Bennett
- Kari Matchett
- David Feehan
- Lawrence Barry
- Marthe Bernard
- Greg Malone
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Maudie about?
- A physically vulnerable Nova Scotian housekeeper finds dignity and a measure of freedom through the folk paintings that transform her harsh domestic world.
- What is Maudie like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Maudie as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Maudie violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Maudie as moderate.
- What did critics think of Maudie?
- Critics broadly praised Sally Hawkins’s deeply empathetic performance, Ethan Hawke’s committed supporting work, and the film’s warm photography while noting that the screenplay only skims the complexity of Maud Lewis’s life and art.
- Which films are like Maudie?
- Films with a similar feel include The Theory of Everything, Frida, Pollock, and Bright Star.
- How long is Maudie?
- Maudie runs 115 minutes.
- Where can I watch Maudie?
- In United States, Maudie is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
