Friday, 3 September 2.45pm
Away From Her
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    Sarah Polley's directorial debut starring Julie Christie is an adaptation of Alice Munro's story about the effects of Alzheimer's on a long and happy marriage. A man coping with the institutionalisation of his wife faces an epiphany when she transfers her affections to another man, who is also a patient at the nursing home.

    Rated: [ M ] MODERATE COARSE LANGUAGE
    Cinema release: 4 Oct 2007
    Director: Sarah Polley
    Running time: 105 mins
    Stars: Julie Christie, Michael Murphy, Olympia Dukakis, Gordon Pinsent
    Links: Official Site
    IMDb
    Rotten Tomatoes

    What we say
    Honest and heartbreaking, don't stay away

    Stephen Tosio, MovieFix  
    3 star rating
    Based on the short story "The Bear Came Over the Mountain" by Alice Munro, "Away From Her" is a heartfelt, intimate portrayal of relationships affected by Alzheimer's disease. Eschewing the more banal Hollywood treatment of this difficult subject matter, writer/director Sarah Polley infuses her film with style. This is a delicate drama for a sophisticated audience. The story centres on the marriage of Fiona (Julie Christie) and Grant (Gordon Pinsent). After 40 years together, they must face the possibility that her forgetfulness is actually Alzheimer's disease. Fiona's condition deteriorates until Grant reluctantly agrees to move her into a nursing home. Adhering to a "no visitors" policy, they are forced apart for the first time in their marriage. Grant returns for his first visit to find that Fiona has settled in too well. She has forgotten him, and worse, become attached to Aubrey (Michael Murphy) - a fellow patient in need of her care and affection. Over time Grant watches helplessly as the gulf widens between him and his wife, as their former life together fades. His growing desperation propels him toward an act of selfless devotion that proves "It's never too late to become what you might have been". Julie Christie charts Fiona's erratic journey with subtlety and poise; she is simply stunning on screen. Michael Murphy holds our attention effortlessly with an understated yet impassioned performance as Grant. Leads of this calibre provide crucial dramatic foundation and are supported well, with a notable performance by Olympia Dukakis as Marian, Aubrey's wife. This is treacherous, heart-wrenching territory, but the script deals with the difficult subject matter honestly and effectively. The tension never spills into melodrama, the emotion never overtly sentimental.

    This story feels real, a fact which will resonate with a more mature audience, as will the meandering pace. Younger viewers may find this story slow and depressing, a frightening portrayal of old age and a devastating disease. But "Away From Her" achieves what it sets out to do admirably and hopefully will win a broader audience with inspired performances, an intelligent script and a truly unique love story.

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