Hawkins portrays Maud with a keen, almost connected, understanding of the artist. Maud is extremely smart, does not adhere to the gender protocol of the times, and is fiercely funny with her parenthetical quips. Maud has been brushed to the side her entire life, made to feel meaningless and incompetent, and now, determined to prove her family wrong, she sets out on her own. She takes a job as a housecleaner for a local fishmonger who is a bit of a recluse, to say the least. Somehow, in a very atypical way, the two court and fall in love, endearing us even more to this shy and witty woman.
The film takes us on Maud’s journey along the country roads, through the meadows and rolling hills, and past the scenic shoreline, capturing the essence of what Maud sees and what her art becomes. When she finally has the wings to fly, her relationship with Everett (Hawke) is tested even further as we experience their ups and downs.
The story is as beautiful as the countryside in the summer and both Hawke and Hawkins shine in their respective roles. Their journey is a roller coaster ride of emotions, pulling you instantly into the film, feeling as if you are seated on a chair in their meager dwelling witnessing the harsh realities of life during that time. The emotions in the film bring you to unexpected moments of laughter as well as to tears of both joy and sorrow streaming down your cheeks. You’ll gasp in disbelief, feeling as if the rug of life has been pulled out from beneath your feet.