Film Reviews

Away From Her

• Rating:
• Director: Sarah Polley
• Starring: Gordon Pinsent
• Details: Canada / 110mins (PG).

Staring: Julie Christie, Gordon Pinsent, Michael Murphy, Olympia Dukakis.

"I think I may be beginning to disappear." It's been coming for a long time, but now Fiona (Christie) and her husband Grant (Pinsent), married for forty years, must face facts: she's not just forgetful, she's suffering from Alzheimer's Disease and it's slowly getting worse. When she wanders off one day and gets lost, they sit down and realise that a nursing home is the only option. Although they haven't been separated for a more than a day during their long marriage, Fiona and Grant must consent to thirty days apart so she can get used to her new environment. It's tough for Grant, but nothing can prepare him for what's in store once the thirty days are up - Grant finds that not only has Fiona forgotten him, she's fallen in love with Aubrey (Murphy), a mute, wheelchair-bound patient. Away From Her, adapted by director Sarah Polley from Alice Munro's short story The Bear Came Over The Mountain, is a marvellous and touching film that will break your heart, make you laugh, and break your heart all over again. Christie is fantastic and never overdoes it, while Pinsent is given more to do with a complex character. His Grant can be self-absorbed, feeling that Fiona might be putting on an act, punishing him for cheating on her years before. It's not just the story or the acting that makes Away From Here standout; Polley knows a nice shot when she sees one, and uses the surrounding Ontario scenery to great effect. It's an assured and confident script with just the right amount of sadness, sentimentality and humour, and Polley manages to keep it all balanced. A debut feature from a 28 year old, Away From Her looks like a film from a mid-career auteur.

Review by Gavin Burke