Agatha’s Almanac (Canada, 2025. Dir: Amalie Atkins): In spite of the Saskatchewan provincial government’s best efforts (or lack thereof), the Saskatchewan film industry refuses to die.

Perhaps “industry” is too strong a word, particularly when discussing a documentary as proudly analog as Agatha’s Almanac, but there is local talent willing to face the challenges of working in the province with defiance and ingenuity.

Take this documentary—it’s as unassuming as they come. Its subject, Agatha Bock, is a 90-year-old farmer living alone in a house quite literally held together with duct tape. She eschews the comforts of modern life, relying instead on wisdom accumulated over decades—knowledge that might have been lost if it weren’t for filmmaker Amalie Atkins and her entirely female team.

Between excellent pieces of advice about growing and storing produce (do you want to keep your strawberries crisp? Watch this movie), we get glimpses of Agatha’s life: one marked by hardship, but also by joy. At the centre of the film is a woman who is practical, quirky, occasionally cantankerous, and deeply connected to the land. She lives fully by taking the road less travelled—growing her own food, filling every daylight hour with chores, and enjoying her own company.

Shot over the course of six years on 16 mm film (any other approach would feel alien) by cinematographer Rhayne Vermette, Agatha’s Almanac has an otherworldly quality. If you’re looking for a traditional narrative, there isn’t much of it until the end. Instead, the film feels like spending time with a relative who keeps to herself but proves far more interesting than most family members.

Director Amalie Atkins is so committed to the DIY aesthetic that even the credits are handwritten and sewn in. Her consistency and commitment to her vision feel like those of a much more experienced filmmaker, which bodes well for her career. ★★★☆☆

Agatha’s Almanac will play at the VIFF Centre in Vancouver on April 19, 21, 23, and 26, and at the Roxy Theatre in Saskatoon from April 25 to 28.