In creating this humble portrait of her nonagenarian aunt as she potters in and around her farm in rural Manitoba, director Amalie Atkins inadvertently provided something a little greater: a guide on how to live a meaningful life. And as we learn very early on in our time with Agatha Bock, just about everything you need to know can be discovered by properly tending a garden. Respectfully adhering to the rhythms of Agatha’s days while still observing the larger shifts between seasons, Atkins captures something magical and profound about the life of her subject, a woman who exudes a wisdom that feels as deeply rooted in this place as anything that grows there. It’s easy to see why the film — whose handmade, hand-worn aesthetic is well complemented by its beautifully grainy 16mm look – has earned so much love from viewers, along with such honours as the Best Canadian Feature Documentary Award at Hot Docs and a spot in Canada’s Top Ten.

This screening will be preceded by the world premiere of the local short film FOOTFLATS FARM (d. Timothy Andrews). Shot during a summer spent on a sheep farm on Amherst Island, the film drifts through the slow, stubborn rhythm of the place.

Director: Amalie Atkins

Language: English

Runtime: 87 minutes

coming soon