» Agatha’s Almanac at Sydney Film Festival

Agatha’s Almanac at Sydney Film Festival – review

June 12, 2025

‘For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations’ Psalms 100:5.

Watching Agatha’s Almanac, a documentary by Amalie Atkins on her 90 year old aunt Agatha Bock, I am reminded of the goodness of God who provides comfort in times of uncertainty. Her Christian faith although not explicitly stated in the film is hinted upon, she mentions it throughout and there is a handmade tapestry hung on her living room, which from memory, quotes Psalm 100, a passage which speaks of trusting in God’s mercy in all times and circumstances. Like the cups of tea and homemade baked goods, Agatha’s simple life isn’t one of frugality due to a lack of, but a celebration of all that has been provided to her. She makes do with what she has, living a simple life and trusting in God’s goodness and provision, a comfort and reminder I myself need to cling onto.

Agatha’s Almanic is shot in fragments made up of 16mm, heavy on nostaglia and artefacts left by film’s texture, an imperfect but highly personal scrapbook which invites viewers to slow down and celebrate the simple things in life. Surrounded by her collection of homemade goods, self-confessed ‘duct tape queen’ Agatha Bock tends to a garden teeming with fruits and vegetables she harvests with much love and care, packing them in rewashed plastic bags and cardboard boxes as gifts for her family and friends.

Atkins’s portrait of her aunt Agatha feels like a warm hug, famliiar and comforting, a personal documentary on the wisdom of the elderly and lived experience as seen through the items Agatha has collected, showcased throughout the film in a series of stop-motion sequences and closeups. Collections of gloves, piles of tape, mismatching shoes, harvested fruits and vegetables all feature throughout the film.

Agatha’s Almanic is a beautiful and heartwarming film touching on this aspect many of us caught up in the busyness of life tend to forget, the privildge of being alive and as Agatha states, ‘you can have a life of joy and hope but it’s not always easy.’ The intentionality of choosing joy despite circumstance is one which inspires, particularly when there are times or seasons tinged with grief that make joy challenging. For myself and perhaps for Agatha this is found in our Christian faith, as relfected in the Psalms, praising God’s goodness and faithfulness.

This beauty in spite of sorrow is reflected in Agatha’s mention of the loss of her sisters as seen in a scene consisting of empty deck chairs as the camera pans right slowly, Agatha’s voice-over narration juxtaposed with items, chairs which perhaps once embodied those she once knew. She mentions growing up with very little, a catholic man who persued her of which she rejected, and growing up with a lack of running water, these moments don’t seek sympathy but instead are filled with bursts of humour and hopefulness audiences find enjoyable. From the start of the film, Agatha addresses the camera directly and the personal nature of the documentary as seen through Amalie’s relationship with her aunt. As a viewer I am grateful to have been witness to this film and having been reminded of this, especially in a time when I needed it the most.

In a time where many of us seek connection with others, when we’re so busy and often overwhelmed, Agatha states that in her 90 years she has never been lonely. ‘I’ve always had something to do’ she tells the camera, keeping busy and finding contentment in what she has. Agatha’s Almanac perhaps asks us to pause, reflect, and be grateful.

For more info about Agatha’s Almanac and about Sydney Film Festival in general, go here.