Film Review: Away from Her

This amazing film was the opener for the Toronto Film Festival. It was a great success It isn’t often I can praise a Canadian film. Sarah Polley is very successful in this writing directing debut of the short story by Alice Munroe. Apparently Sarah had tried to make a film previously and it wasn’t successful. She was just about to give up film making when she read the short stories by Alice Munro. There has been a lot of attention to this film in the past week. Interviews and articles are everywhere. Apparently the cast was delighted with Sarah Polley’s great skill in directing... She was a task master and knew exactly what she wanted. They praised her skills. I have always been a fan of Gordon Pinsent. He is at his best in this role. Julie Christie is a great actress. We don’t get to see her often enough. She chooses her roles very carefully. Fortunately she is a friend of Sarah Polley and Sarah was able to convince her to play the role. I was afraid to see this film because of the subject matter. I have a dread of Alzheimer’s and wasn’t sure I would find a film about a woman’s deteriorating mind something to call entertainment. I did hear one criticism of the movie that the Alzheimer’s was almost glorified and not excruciating enough for the patient. I have no experience in this field so saw it totally as a novice. I found it extremely sad and emotionally draining. Initially we meet Brant (Pinsent) and his wife Fiona (Christie) at their cottage. They seem to be having a wonderful life. He is a retired professor. They enjoy cross country skiing, reading and being cozy by the fire. It is becoming apparent that Fiona is having trouble remembering. She forgets where things belong. She can’t remember events or places. They discuss the problem and agree that she should enter a home. There was some levity with the director of the home. On the other hand her cheery ‘do good’ style is probably typical. Fiona adjusts only too well to the home. When Grant is finally able to visit her (a 30 day adjustment period is mandatory) he sadly discovers that she is attending to Aubrey another patient. He thrives when she is around and depends on her. Fiona cheers up when she is with Aubrey and has no time for her husband.. She tells Grant that she doesn’t have any pressure when she is with Aubrey. Poor Grant comes daily and sits sullenly watching while Fiona holds hands with Aubrey and comforts him. It is totally upsetting. Grant wonders if it is real or in some way she is punishing him for an indiscretion he committed many years previously. He briefly seeks comfort from Aubrey’s wife. Does he care for her or is it the strong need to be with a woman? It is believable that they both were experiencing a loss and needed the comfort of one another.
I would call this great acting. Gordon Pinsent, particularly, is outstanding. While the subject matter is upsetting it is handled in a sensitive manner. This is a film well worth seeing.