Howick Lions Club Fund Raising Movie Night

Private Screening of "Maudie"

Monterey Cinema, Howick - 25th October 2017

Everett Lewis (Ethan Hawke) is a man who owes nothing to anyone. Tall, skinny and shabby, abandoned by his parents at a very young age, he has nevertheless managed to become a proud and selfsufficient man, largely by collecting scraps and peddling fish. He lives in a 10x12 foot house that has neither running water nor electricity, but at least it’s all his. Everett is his own boss and has everything he needs, except maybe a woman to clean the house and cook his meals.

When he posts an ad for a live-in housekeeper, the only interest generated is from a strange looking woman - short, hunched over, with gnarled up hands and two huge bright brown eyes. And her name is Maud Dowley (Sally Hawkins).

Though Everett resists at first, he finally hires Maud. But he is suspicious of her. She talks too much, has too many opinions. She’s a terrible housekeeper and keeps talking marriage whenever he tries to have sex. She spends most of her time painting doodles on cardboard and the walls of his house. Everett realizes he hardly got what he bargained for. At least, the little cards that Maud paints begin to sell, so she can start pulling her weight around the house.

But what’s worse is Everett is starting to need Maud. When she isn’t near him, his life is dull and grey. As years pass and Maudie becomes a recognized folk artist, Everett has more difficulty hiding from his feelings. His fears of abandonment rise to the surface and become intolerable whenever he feels at risk of losing her. He has to decide whether he’ll shut down and protect himself from ever being hurt, or if he will take the risk and let love into his life, even if it means his heart will break for doing it.

Without love, there is no purpose.