Seven public assistance programs, nine moves, 338 toilets cleaned, and two stints at the Domestic Violence shelter. Such is life for Alex (Margaret Qualley, The Leftovers) as she escapes an abusive relationship and struggles to provide for her three-year-old daughter, Maddy. She works as a maid while trying to navigate the red tape of governmental programs and dealing with her, to put it mildly, dysfunctional family. Inspired by Stephanie Land’s memoir – Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive, the limited series (10 episodes, one hour each) is one woman’s account of the vicious cycle of abuse and poverty.
The series begins when Alex leaves home with $18 in her pocket after the latest rageful outburst from her boyfriend. A pop-up on the screen tallies her dwindling cash as she buys a few necessities. She has nowhere to go except her mother’s trailer. Paula (Margaret’s real-life mom, Andie MacDowell, Four Weddings and a Funeral) is one of the most infuriating, frustrating characters you’ll ever meet. She is manic and seems to suffer from an undiagnosed mental health disorder. It’s immediately apparent and gets reinforced over and over that Alex can’t count on her mother. It’s the other way around; Alex has to take care of her mother and her adorable Maddy. Qualley is fantastic in the lead role with an expressively reserved demeanor as she faces one setback after another.
The show is difficult to watch. You’ll know that right away. The catch-22 realities of poverty are relentless. First, she needs a roof over their heads. In order to get subsidized housing, she needs a job. The Value Maids job provides the thinnest layer of stability. She and Maddy have to leave the shelter and then stay with a revolving door of people and places – boyfriend, mother, abusive, now born-again father, former co-worker friend, her car, and the ferry station. She endures two custody battles with her ex and eventually loses her job and childcare for Maddy.
Luckily, the show has whimsical and lighter moments. Visual metaphors depict Alex’s state of mind. When she’s in court, every word she hears is “legal” as the judge and boyfriend’s attorney discuss her future as a mother. The stack of forms to fill out for County assistance literally mocks her. Maddy provides her the joy and comfort to keep going. Even the house cleanings, no matter how disgusting, offer a sense of order and routine. Her journal writing offers some dreams for the future.
Maid is gut wrenching. The obstacles Alex faces to survive are demoralizing and seemingly insurmountable. But the story is also about love and perseverance. The feel-good ending might be too sentimental for some. After experiencing this emotional series, you’ll need a hopeful conclusion. So do Alex and Maddy. It’s a beautiful ending.
D² Rating ◼◼◼◼☐
Trivia: Margaret Qualley plays “Pussycat” in what 2019 film?
Answer: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Comments
2 responses to “Maid: Netflix’s Crushing, Heartwarming Series on a Life in Poverty”
Oh man, that sounds/looks like a tough watch.
Barcelona1, thanks for commenting. It is a tough watch, but well worth it.