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Review #452 of 365
Movie Review of Away from Her (2007) [PG-13] 110 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $13.25
Where Viewed: United Artists Denver Pavilions Stadium 15, Denver, CO
Special Denver Film Society Advance Screening
When 1st Seen: 26 April 2007
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Film's Official Website • Film's Trailer
DVD Release Date: 11 September 2007 (click date to purchase)
Directed by: Sarah Polley (All I Want for Christmas)
Written by: Alice Munro (Edge of Madness) and Sarah Polley (I Shout Love) based on the short story "The Bear Came Over the Mountain" by Alice Munro
Featured Cast (Where You Might Remember Him/Her From):
Julie Christie (The Secret Life of Words) • Michael Murphy (X-Men: The Last Stand) • Gordon Pinsent (Saint Ralph) • Olympia Dukakis (The Great New Wonderful) • Kristen Thomson (The Matthew Shepard Story) • Wendy Crewson (The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause)
Soundtrack: Download now from 
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word or less review of this film]
Canadian actress, director, writer Sarah Polley has assembled a truly lovely and dignified tribute to the life of a couple who share the wife's gradual slip into the tight grip of Alzheimer's. Though no cause nor cure is known at the time of this writing nor of the film's release, sadly worse, an ever-increasing number of people succumb to the brain ravaging disease every year.
"…a truly lovely and dignified tribute to the life of a couple who share the wife's gradual slip into the tight grip of Alzheimer's."
While the film does not serve as a direct call to action, it gives glimpses into a future that may affect as many as 1 in ever 10 adults in the USA and Canada, perhaps prodding the logic for funding and, at the very least, care and respect for both those afflicted and the families whose lives are irrevocably altered as they begin the cycle of care as their loved ones spiral further and further away.
The film, told with flashbacks that occasionally confuse in much the same way as it must be for an Alzheimer's patient who lives in the present and remembers less and less of the past through flashes of memories sometimes vivid and sometimes vacuous, is the story of Fiona (Julie Christie) and Grant (Gordon Pinsent). He, a former university professor of Icelandic mythology, and she his devoted wife, have lived, safely retired, for the past 20 years, in the cottage of her grandparents. Their days pass glowingly as they cross country ski together, read together, and basically enjoy each other's company every day. Idyllic, we learn by inference, that perhaps Grant slipped up once in the past with a co-ed, and this created a tension never fully rested in Fiona's mind. Nonetheless, he stayed true to her in the end. Now, signs begin to pop up that things in Fiona's mind are not as they once were. The classic, telltale sign disturbs Grand and causes him to wonder when, after doing the dinner dishes together as they have for dozens of years, Fiona puts the frying pan away in the freezer instead of the cupboard without noticing or thinking about that being the wrong things to do.
The film, told with flashbacks that occasionally confuse in much the same way as it must be for an Alzheimer's patient who lives in the present and remembers less and less of the past through flashes of memories sometimes vivid and sometimes vacuous, is the story of Fiona (Julie Christie) and Grant (Gordon Pinsent). He, a former university professor of Icelandic mythology, and she his devoted wife, have lived, safely retired, for the past 20 years, in the cottage of her grandparents. Their days pass glowingly as they cross country ski together, read together, and basically enjoy each other's company every day. Idyllic, we learn by inference, that perhaps Grant slipped up once in the past with a co-ed, and this created a tension never fully rested in Fiona's mind. Nonetheless, he stayed true to her in the end. Now, signs begin to pop up that things in Fiona's mind are not as they once were. The classic, telltale sign disturbs Grand and causes him to wonder when, after doing the dinner dishes together as they have for dozens of years, Fiona puts the frying pan away in the freezer instead of the cupboard without noticing or thinking about that being the wrong things to do.
"…Julie Christie's portrayal…is as lovely, wonderful, spirited, and enchanting as any role she's ever had."
Forgetful, confused, and disoriented at times, things grow worse, and Fiona's fears rise. She is fully aware that something is not right and that things she once knew are lost. Grant, of course, is internally tortured between wondering if this is real or a game she's playing. He doesn't want to, of course, believe it is real. Eventually, it becomes apparent that she is a potential danger to herself, and that moving to a care facility that can provide better for her needs is in order. It is here that Fiona meets Aubrey (Michael Murphy), and the two strike up a deep and less than clandestine relationship. Aubrey, who's been enrolled only for a short time by his wife, Marian (Olympia Dukakis), needs attention, and Fiona needs to feel needed. They make a great pair much to the chagrin and dismay of Grant who somehow believes she should not be giving her love or attention to anyone but him. Eventually, he must come to terms with both her disease and the fact that their life as he knew it and dreamed it would end together is never going to happen.
Julie Christie's portrayal of Fiona is as lovely, wonderful, spirited, and enchanting as any role she's ever had. Beautiful and witty, she demonstrates why her career has had the staying power of her veteran status of over 4 decades(not that she looks anywhere nearly old enough to have been in films this long!). The rightful heiress to the crown of Katherine Hepburn, we can only hope to continue to enjoy the incredible work of this treasured, Academy Award®-winning, Indian-born, actress who first won hearts as Lara in Dr. Zhivago, for a long, long time to come. Opposite her, surely no easy task, was Gordon Pinset, the acclaimed Canadian actor, once friends with Marlon Brando certain trivia sites will argue, has an impressive résumé himself. His take on Grant, part devotion, part anger, part frustration, part intrigue, makes for a complicated character who never wavers in his love or support for his now ailing wife. He never once allows her to see his pain. Likewise, he never gives up hoping this is a phase and they'll have their life back though it becomes increasingly obvious this is never going to happen as the days pass by. Stupendous casting and excellent supporting performances, notably the no-nonsense nurse Kristy (Kristen Thomson) rounded things out for an overall touching and heartfelt film experience. Life-long couples will see this film and dearly weep throughout. There can probably be nothing more agonizing than watching a beloved one slip down a dark well slowly. The film may assist those going through equivalent situations make more sense of it all.
Julie Christie's portrayal of Fiona is as lovely, wonderful, spirited, and enchanting as any role she's ever had. Beautiful and witty, she demonstrates why her career has had the staying power of her veteran status of over 4 decades(not that she looks anywhere nearly old enough to have been in films this long!). The rightful heiress to the crown of Katherine Hepburn, we can only hope to continue to enjoy the incredible work of this treasured, Academy Award®-winning, Indian-born, actress who first won hearts as Lara in Dr. Zhivago, for a long, long time to come. Opposite her, surely no easy task, was Gordon Pinset, the acclaimed Canadian actor, once friends with Marlon Brando certain trivia sites will argue, has an impressive résumé himself. His take on Grant, part devotion, part anger, part frustration, part intrigue, makes for a complicated character who never wavers in his love or support for his now ailing wife. He never once allows her to see his pain. Likewise, he never gives up hoping this is a phase and they'll have their life back though it becomes increasingly obvious this is never going to happen as the days pass by. Stupendous casting and excellent supporting performances, notably the no-nonsense nurse Kristy (Kristen Thomson) rounded things out for an overall touching and heartfelt film experience. Life-long couples will see this film and dearly weep throughout. There can probably be nothing more agonizing than watching a beloved one slip down a dark well slowly. The film may assist those going through equivalent situations make more sense of it all.
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Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Other Projects Featuring Away From Her (2007)
Cast Members
Julie Christie
• Michael Murphy • Gordon PinsentOlympia Dukakis
• Kristen Thomson • Wendy CrewsonCo-writer / Director
Sarah Polley
Co-Writer
Alice Munro
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Away From Her (2007) Review-lite [150-word cap]
Canadian actress, director, writer Sarah Polley has assembled a lovely, dignified tribute to the life of a couple who share the wife's gradual slip into the tight grip of Alzheimer's. The story, told with flashbacks, is of Fiona (Julie Christie) and Grant (Gordon Pinsent). He, a former professor and she his devoted wife, have lived, safely retired, for 20 years, in an idyllic cottage. Their days pass glowingly as they ski, read, and basically enjoy each other's company, until the telltale signs of her illness set in. Julie Christie's portrayal is as lovely, wonderful, and spirited as any role she's ever had. Gordon Pinset, the acclaimed Canadian actor, creates Grant's role part from devotion, anger, frustration, and intrigue. There can be nothing more agonizing than watching a beloved one slip down a dark well slowly. The film may assist those going through equivalent situations make more sense of it all.
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