Films by the Falls gets a surprise visit from “Maudie” producer

It was a triple treat for Fenelon Falls film goers last night at the screening of the film “Maudie”

The film was just recently released and has not yet hit local theatres however organizers of Fenelon’s “Films by the Falls” scored a local screening. Almost 200 people came out to see the story of Maud Lewis a Canadian folk artist who overcame a life of hardship and physical pain to become a celebrated painter in Nova Scotia and around the world. Maud was born with physical disabilities and developed juvenile rheumatoid arthritis when she was eight or nine years old. After Maud’s parents died her brother sent her to live with en elderly aunt.

“Maud wanted to have her own life so she applied for a job as a housekeeper for a man who was born in a poorhouse and who was a loner and a miser” says “Maudie” Producer Mary Young Leckie. “She was determined to make a life and she was determined to find love”

The movie was a labour of love for Leckie who says she spent fourteen years trying to get the film made after coming across Maud’s story during a visit to the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. “Inside the art gallery is Maud’s little house and all of her paintings and I sat there and watched a national film board movie on a loop and I said I’m going to make this into a movie” she told Kawartha 411 after making a surprise appearance at the screening of the movie in Fenelon Falls. “I fell in love with Maud and I fell in love with the joy that is in all of her art”

Showing the film in Fenelon Falls was like a homecoming for Leckie. She started coming to the Kawartha Lakes as a child and when she was 17 years old her parents moved to the Omemee area. “I learned to paddle on Pigeon Lake and I learned to run a boat on Pigeon Lake.” she says.  I grew up here so this is like coming home, it’s wonderful. My soul is here”

Producer Mary Young Leckie and Colleen Jenkinson of Films by the Falls

“Films by the Falls” is a community led project meant to bring movies to the town and bring the townspeople together. It was Kathryn Rogers idea. “I was driving through Bancroft about three years ago and I saw a sign saying they had a film circuit and I thought if a small community like Bancroft can have a film circuit so can Fenelon Falls, plus I love movies. she laughs. It’s a not for profit and his held together by an army of volunteers.

The first movie was shown in March 2014. They screen 8 movies a year at the Fenelon Falls Secondary School (FFSS) from January to May and September to December. According to Rogers the place is usually packed with 110-120 people.

However it’s not just showing a movie, it’s a community event that ties in with the theme of the movie. There was a pop-up art gallery for the showing of Maudie on Tuesday night. Local artists were invited to attend and show their work. Painter Gail McFadden says it was an honour to be invited. ” They sent me an email saying they were looking for artists and I only live 3 km away,  it’s such an amazing opportunity I couldn’t pass it up”

On April 19th “Film by the Falls” celebrated Canada’s National Film Day Canada 150 with a showing of the movie titled “The Sweet Hereafter” Students from FFSS hospitality class were called on to bake up a smorgasbord of Canadian Food for the event. They also partnered with the guitar class at the school the the ReUnion choir to provide Canadian music.

Maud’s paintings originally sold for five and ten cents. Larger works went for $5. One of her paintings is now being auctioned online and the price is up to $125.000.

“Maudie” originally opened on only four theatres. It was expanded to 30 theatres a week later and will be opening in 75 locations this Friday. Peterborough is one of them.

For more information on”Films by the Falls” click here: http://filmsbythefalls.com