I had wanted to see this film for a while and even had a Netflix copy of the DVD in the house at one point before it got sent back in favor of something of more light hearted (yes I know how shallow that sounds). It's simply a case of being 'ready' to see a film like Away From Her which deals with the very hard challenges families and individuals deal with when they come face to face with Alzheimer's disease. It was also good to see a Canadian film from a Canadian director, Sarah Polley, who also adapted the screenplay for the movie from the Alice Munro short story The Bear Came Over the Mountain. I confess to not knowing enough about Canadian cinema and need to put some more hours in to appreciate the obvious talent that exists in it's film industry. Indeed if awards are anything to go by Polley represented Canada at the highest level as her film was nominated for two Oscars, Lead Actress - Julie Christie and Best Writing.
Filmed during the winter of 2006 in locations all over the province of Ontario the film deals with husband Grant Anderson (Gordon Pinsent) having to face the reality of putting his wife of 44 years Fiona (Julie Christie) into a nursing home for older people suffering from Alzheimer's disease. A mutual decision is made while Fiona is still able to participate in the selection of a suitable facility and husband and wife make the painful journey from their home and to begin a 30 day period of separation to allow Fiona to settle in. As if this wasn't hard enough on Grant when he returns to visit Fiona after their forced separation his wife has both forgotten who he is and has become involved with another man at the home also suffering from the disease. Grant naturally perseveres as one imagines partners of those suffering always do in this sad situation and as the truth that Fiona will never again be what she was sinks in he realizes sacrifice is how he must now show love for his wife.
This is a film about two people in love and while it was Christie that received the Oscar nod the two leads offer performances of equal strength. Portraying the suffering of someone with this disease comes with a responsibility to those watching who have experience of the condition and Christie was brave enough not to shy away from just how debilitating Alzheimer's can be. There were times during scenes with Aubrey, her new friend at the home, that the film took on an almost docudrama quality, so real were interactions between characters. Both Christie and Pinsent offered subtle restraint in their roles with Fiona's behavior never descending into an extreme portrayal of the worst of the disease and Grant's frustrated reactions never seeming to boil over. The supporting cast was mostly incidental in terms of performance but instead contributing what was needed to the story perhaps with the exception of Olympia Dukakis who capably plays Aubrey's wife and eventual 'partner in loss' of Grant.
It's obviously not an easy subject to write about let alone portray in a film that people will want to go and see and so I have to give credit for Polley for doing just that. Away From Her is ultimately a very tender love story which for all the sense of sorrow at the end of Grant and Fiona's traditional marriage ended up as an affirmation of partnership. Watching the couple go from what they had for so long to living such a different life with no less love between them, even if it only comes in glimpses from Fiona, will make you cherish the most important relationships that surround you and what a gift that is from a movie. The word that sums up Away From Her perfectly is grace, for it infuses the film throughout in both story and performances. While you will find easier movies to watch you will be hard pressed to find ones that satisfy in the way this one does.
Rating: ****
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