Agatha’s Almanac

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Fragile as she may be, Agatha (90) still chooses to live alone on the old family farm in rural Manitoba, Canada. She leads a solitary life, but does not feel lonely. There is plenty to do in the vast gardens where she sows and harvests everything from potatoes to strawberries and melons. Some of the seeds still come from the stock passed down by her ancestors.

Surrounded by lush greenery, she speaks in her characteristically matter-of-fact way about her life, as well as the quilts she makes. More sensitive subjects—the death of a sister, suitors who failed to win her affection—surface almost in passing. Gradually, the film becomes not only a portrait of Agatha, but also of a nearly forgotten way of life. She sees life as a privilege, even if it is not always easy.

This is the first feature-length documentary by multidisciplinary artist Amalie Atkins, Agatha’s niece. Working with a small, all-female crew, Atkins captured her aunt’s artisanal world over a six-year period, filming on 16mm. At the prestigious Canadian documentary festival Hot Docs, Agatha's Almanac received the award for Best Canadian Feature Documentary.