Maud (Sally Hawkins) is a bright-eyed and determined young woman who, despite suffering from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, is desperate to live independently from her over-protective family and gain the freedom to paint the colourful art she passionately creates. On applying to become a housekeeper for reclusive fish peddler Everett (Ethan Hawke), the two social misfits form a bond that soon leads to marriage. As Maudie’s creative output increases, a chance encounter with a visiting New Yorker eventually leads to wider recognition of her talent.

This gentle biopic from Irish filmmaker Aisling Walsh (Song for a Raggy Boy) is both an unlikely love story and an inspiring tale of the woman who became one of Canada’s most celebrated folk artists.