Agatha's Almanac

Amalie Atkins Canada 2025 86 min.

The 90-year-old Agatha is fragile; yet incredibly strong at the same time. She still lives on her own on her family's old farm in the Canadian province of Manitoba. She lives without running water, telephone or drivers license. She leads a solitary life, but doesn't feel lonely. There is much to do in the vast gardens where she sows and reaps everything from potatoes to strawberries and melons. This stunning portrait about a forgotten way of life got chosen as best Canadian documentary at the prestigious filmfestival Hot Docs. 

Agatha’s daily rituals stand in stark contrast with modern life. Surrounded by lots of green she speaks about her daily life in a down-to-earth manner, but also about more sensitive topics, like the death of her sister or admirers she wanted nothing to do with. She sees life as a privilege, although that isn’t always easy. Her day-to-day life consists of creating, like many generations before her did; from the quilts she makes to the plants she cultivates. Some seeds still come from her ancestors' stock. Multidisciplinary artist Amalie Atkins, Agatha’s niece, spent six years documenting the artisanal world and unique lifestyle of her aunt who lives according to Mother Nature's calendar.