Agatha's Almanac

“I’ve never really been very lonely because I’ve always had something to do,” says Agatha Bock. A single Manitoban in her mid-80s, Agatha has fashioned herself an essentially self-sufficient lifestyle on her 54-acre ancestral farm, where she spends her days growing delectable fruits and vegetables from heirloom seeds. Her tools are held together with duct tape, her green thumb plastered in a cast, but neither her advanced age nor doctors’ orders can hold her back from the satisfaction of tending to her crops.

Amalie Atkins’ debut feature documentary chronicles her aunt Agatha’s daily rituals over the course of six years as she shares practical farming tips, Mennonite recipes for pierogies, and captivating stories from her life. Colourful montages of Agatha’s patchwork quilts, hand-labeled jars, and gardening gloves call to a family history lovingly preserved through all things handmade and homegrown. Shot on vibrant 16mm film by cinematographer Rhayne Vermette (Ste. Anne) and paired with a relaxing lo-fi soundtrack by Green-House, Agatha’s Almanac draws an artful portrait of simple, sustainable living.

Wondrous… The rhythms of Agatha’s way of life soak into one’s consciousness. As an immersion in a fully realized world, Agatha’s Almanac is so resolutely charming that there is no point in resisting its power. Let it remind you that there is another way to live lightly on the earth, with care and attention paid to the smallest of details.

Dorothy Woodend, The Tyee

The embodiment of cottagecore — a document of quietness and quaintness, aesthetically conveying the romantic beauty of a life of simplicity.

Alex Hudson, Exclaim!