Away from Her

Plot synopsis:
Grant and Fiona are a retired married couple living in rural Brant County, Ontario. Fiona begins to lose her memory, and it becomes apparent she suffers from Alzheimer's disease. Throughout the film, Grant's reflections on his marriage are woven with his reflections on his own infidelities, and influence his eventual decisions regarding Fiona's happiness.
When she feels she is becoming a risk to herself, Fiona decides to check into a nursing home, where one of the rules is that a patient cannot have any visitors for the first 30 days, in order to "adjust". Wary of this policy, Grant agrees anyway, at the insistence of his wife whom he loves. During the drive to the home, Fiona acknowledges Grant's past infidelity while he was a university professor. Despite the awkward situation, the couple makes love one last time before separating.
When the 30-day period ends, Grant goes to visit his wife again, only to find she has forgotten him, and turned her affections to Aubrey, a mute man in a wheelchair who has become her "coping partner" in the facility. A caregiver at the facility befriends Grant and gives him some advice and support.
While seeing his wife grow closer to Aubrey, Grant becomes an unhappy voyeur when visiting his wife at the nursing home. As time goes by and Fiona still does not remember him, Grant even wonders whether Fiona's dementia is an act, to punish him for his past indiscretions. After some time, Aubrey's wife Marian removes him from the home due to financial difficulties. This causes Fiona to sink into a deep depression, with her physical well-being also appearing to deteriorate. Grant is touched by this, and visits Marian in an effort to allow Fiona to see Aubrey again. He would rather see his wife happy with another man than miserable and alone. Marian initially refuses, but the meeting leads to a tentative relationship between her and Grant. As time passes, Grant continues to visit both Fiona and Marian. He eventually succeeds in taking Aubrey back to visit his wife. But in his "moment alone" before he brings Aubrey into Fiona's room, Fiona temporarily remembers him and the love she has for him. They embrace.

Tags: romantic, flashback

Review:
One thought that would be her best turn at geriatric impersonations.Less than a decade later, Christie comes up with an even better performance of a woman coping with Alzheimer's disease in a debut directorial effort "Away from Her" of Canadian actress Sarah Polley.
Sarah Polley's film grips, holds, moves, thrills; you will think and talk about it, remember the story and the characters indefinitely - which could well serve as a dictionary definition of "great film." All this from a 27-year-old first-time director!You will see advertising and hear talk about "the one with Julie Christie having Alzheimer's," but that describes "Away from Her" no better than saying "Hamlet" is about a man who cannot make up his mind.
Yes, Fiona, Christie's character, is in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's, but the actress - as beautiful as ever and in her greatest role here - creates a complex, full figure, with good moments and bad ones, with intelligence, warmth, carrying regrets and hurts with grace.
You don't; the film's unpredictability is one of its great assets.Add to Polley's script (based on Alice Munro's "The Bear Came Over the Mountain") and direction, to Christie's and Pinsent's magnificent individual and ensemble acting, a cast to treasure.
She had Alzheimer's.After self-righteous 'disease of the week' movies such as Iris, it is maybe hard to imagine a riveting, nuanced love story of depth and imagination, one centred on loss of memory, but Away From Her succeeds in spades.Fiona (Julie Christie) has been married to Grant for 44 years.
There she not only forgets who her husband is, but develops an affection for another patient  an affection that holds all the tenderness she used to share with her (now onlooking) husband.Says Producer Simone Urdl, "The role of Alzheimer's in the film is a metaphor for how memory plays out in a long term relationship: what we chose to remember, what we choose to forget." And our ability to recall things, as Oscar Wilde pointed out, is highly selective.Secure in the knowledge that he has given his wife many years of happiness, Grant glosses over his unfaithfulness in their younger days.
You are watching actors at the peak of their craft, Julie Christie (playing Fiona Anderson), Gordon Pinsent (Grant Anderson) and Olympia Dukakis (Marian) and there is never a false move.But beware, this is a movie for grown-ups and is reminiscent in some ways of "The Dead".
This is the context in which we are introduced to Grant and Fiona (Gordon Pinsett and Julie Christie) in the first feature film adapted and directed by Canadian actress Sarah Polley, AWAY FROM HER.
Wow. Just amazed at the sensitivity of the direction and the spectacular performances.Julie Christie is so adept at convincing her audience, there wasn't a dry eye at our screening.Gordon Pinsent and Olymia Dukakis were equally as gripping in this quiet, realistic tale.If it doesn't get an Oscar for somebody - there is REALLY something wrong with the distribution and/or with AMPAS.come along everyone !Give Sarah your votes..
If there is a God, she, Julie Christie and Gordon Pinsent will all be nominated for Academy Awards.This film deals with a couple married for 45 years, and have never been away from each other.
As Julie Christie's character realizes that she is losing her memory, she makes plans to enter a clinic, from which she knows she will not return from, and her husband does not want her to be "away from her." In a few of the scenes in which her memory has reverted to the past, you find out that their marriage was not perfect, as she brings up events from the past that caused both of them pain.Bring tissues and ladies- make sure you've got waterproof mascara on..
Julie Christie's character was WAY too self-aware -- nobody with Alzheimer's would say many of the things she did, nor would they willingly be skipping off to an Assisted Living facility/nursing home when there is no apparent need for her to go there for some time, perhaps years.And speaking of the facility, I have toured a lot of them, and I can promise you the scenes depicted in this film are not the norm.
It's unusual to find a caregiver who speaks English, much less one who could be a psychologist/marriage counselor in her nonexistent spare time.I really, honestly wanted to like this film and I absolutely love Julie Christie and Olympia Dukakis, but I was so very disappointed.
I'm not usually one to watch films dealing with diseases of any type  believing them to be maudlin, manipulative and even somewhat morbid  much less mental illness, but since this is expected to earn Julie Christie another Oscar (which would probably make it the longest gap between the first and second win), I decided to check it out in time for the upcoming awards ceremony.Christie's character has been struck with the debilitating Alzheimer's Disease but, thankfully, she  or, more precisely, writer-director Polley (a likable actress in her own right, though not appearing here herself)  doesn't bemoan her fate; rather, she accepts it with grace and even treats the condition with mild humor (which is the way these things should be approached but, I guess, one has to really be going through them himself to really know).
On the other hand, the viewpoint of the younger generation (obligatory in our zealously-PC world) is present here  though in a somewhat idealistic manner, if you ask me  via a teenager who chats with Pinsent during one of his visits to the clinic (and, in a deleted sequence, is revealed to be a neighbor of Dukakis and occasionally takes care of Murphy for her).Actually, this isn't the kind of film one would expect an emerging young director to make  particularly since it has aspirations of being a Bergman-like chamber drama which, while fairly compelling and austere (aided with respect to the latter by the snowy Canadian setting), clearly lacks the necessary depth which a master craftsman would otherwise bring to such material..
Based on an Alice Munro short story, this follows an elderly man, Grant (Gordon Pinsent), whose wife, Fiona (Julie Christie) is suffering from Alzheimer's.
Christie's Fiona must go to a nursing home before her disease "progresses." Gordon Pinsent's former college professor Grant reluctantly lets her go.It's not exactly One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in there, but romance does evolve, such as Fiona's with Michael Murphy's Aubrey (art nouveau's Beardsley I'd guess as the artistic allusion).
Sarah Polley's sensitive film about the onset of Alzheimer's may not be the most realistic portrayal of the horrors of the disease, in fact it is more of a love story between two ageing middle-class liberals shocked to suddenly have to come to terms with the passing of time when she is diagnosed as being in the early stages of dementia.
anchored by two extraordinary performances  a revelatory Gordon Pinsent and the exquisite Julie Christie (who, in addition to delivering a gripping, fiercely intelligent portrayal, also sports an impeccable Toronto accent)  the film depicts a married couple dealing with the cards that life's later stages deal.
It is called "Away From Her" and, after a blinding white gives way to some credits, the voice of a man tells a beautiful short anecdote; about how his wife proposed to him.This is Grant (Gordon Pinsent), and there's tenderness in his voice that turns to be very unusual for a guy his age.
One woman's jaw was even broken.All the acting in the film was superb, even when it was not totally realistic relative to AD and its many side issues, but I wish the newbie young filmmaker Sarah Polley would have spent a little more time on how tragic it is that life savings can be depleted quickly by high nursing home costs, leaving sufferers indigent.
We've already seen Joanne Woodward's "Do You Remember Love?" as well as Judy Dench and Jim Broadbent in "Iris."The heartbreak of Alzheimer's is depicted in "Away from Her." Before the disease really advances, victim Fiona (Christie) decides to go into a home where her husband can't see her for 30 days after her admission.
Julie Christie is Fiona, an attractive older woman in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease who has been happily married for 44 years to Grant (Gordon Pinsent), a retired Professor with a grizzly beard, a gentle-looking face and a lilting, melodious voice.
Adapted from a short story by Canadian author Alice Munro, Sarah Polley's Away From Her does not dwell on the ravages of illness but is more about how we handle sudden change in life, poignantly reminding us that all of us may at some point be forced to alter the nature of our relationship with those who are closest to us Set in a rural part of Northern Ontario, the film begins with hints of subtle loss of memory.
As a result of his hurt and jealousy, he visits Aubrey's wife Marian (Olympia Dukakis) and their relationship opens up new avenues of acceptance.Both Christie and Pinsent give masterful performances that should be remembered at Oscar time, yet, in spite of the best efforts of the actors, the dialog, though it has a rich quality, often feels stilted and overly literary, creating an unwelcome touch of artificiality.
Some of the most powerful moments in film are often very quiet and that is in full display in multi-talented Sarah Polley's fantastic first feature film as a director.The film centers around the latter days of the 44 year marriage of Grant and Fiona and their struggles with the most cruel of all diseases, Alzheimers.
Fiona, in what must be an Oscar-nominated performance by Julie Christie, ironically is the one to realize that she needs to be put into a home.There are so many touching, intimate, delicate scenes and subtle performances by the two leads that the film is often difficult to watch.
She has an eye and feel for the story and the layers which add depth to the experience.The most thought-provoking part of the film is the idea that Alzhemiers and real life have some similarities as we often choose to "forget" the rotten points in a long term relationship, while Alzhemiers does the choosing for the person and is not always so forgiving.Must also mention Olympia Dukakis in one of her most grounded roles of all time.
Perhaps more surprisingly, Polley has, in her first attempt at an endeavour such as this, crafted a mature, unrelenting effort at exploring the difficulties of dealing with Alzheimer's.When we first meet the couple concerned - Frank (Gordon Pinsent), and Fiona (Julie Christie), unless you've read a synopsis of the film, you may be somewhat unsure as to which one of them is actually afflicted with Alzheimer's.
It's quite the bleak picture of foreshadowing that Polley paints here, when you realise that by the film's end, this is likely where Fiona will be ending up, despite Grant's insistence that she will not be needing a transfer to the second floor.Thematically, Away From Her is all about loneliness - the sufferers of Alzheimer's are isolated, victims of their own minds, and their families are similarly afflicted, but their solitude comes in their grief, and in some cases, their failure to come to terms with what is coming.
This point marks something of a transformation for a number of the characters - these emotionally drained individuals attempt to make the best of a terribly tragic situation, finding someone, anyone with similar problems, and clinging to them as tightly as possible.Ultimately, Away From Her hits the expected peaks and troughs, but this isn't a film about surprises and stultifying plot twists - it is a sympathetic, affecting, uncompromising look at Alzheimer's, and how it affects the sufferers and their families (who are consequently also suffering a great deal).
Much of what Polley has going for her dramatic gifts as a storyteller is in understatement with her characters, and Pinsent is such an assured player at it I'm quite surprised I have never really seen him before (he's mostly a Canadian television actor).His role, which is what also slightly surprised me from the little I heard about the film, is the crucial one in the story- Fiona, who is starting to lose her memory (not of everything, as we see, but of the things that do endanger her, like when on a walk out on the countryside), goes to a retirement home.
As her condition worsens, she and Grant, her husband of 44 years, agree that she must finally move into a facility specifically designed for the care of Alzheimer's patients.Based on a story by Alice Munro, "Away From her" is more than just the tale of a woman slowly losing herself and her identity in a world of increasing mental oblivion; it is a heartbreaking story of enduring love, as Grant comes to terms with losing his life partner not merely to the condition itself but possibly to a fellow patient with whom she seems to have developed a romantic relationship.
Grant is, in many ways, the focal point of the drama and it is his selfless devotion to the woman he loves that serves as a beacon of hope for what would otherwise be an unendurably depressing story.Christie and Gordon Pinsent are utterly flawless in their performances and both deserve every accolade that could conceivably be bestowed on them for their work in this film.
The Canadian film 'Away from Her' is a story of Grant (Gordan Pinsent) who is coping with his wife Fiona (Julie Christie) as she fades into Alzheimer's disease after a 50-year marriage.
AWAY FROM HER is a wonderfully intelligent and powerful film from Sarah Polley with a performance from Julie Christie which is heart breaking and realistic in its portrayal of how the adult mind becomes a victim to Alzheimer's and the effect it has upon one's family.
The dialog is crisp, clever and real to the characters and their internal and external motivations.AWAY FROM HER touches upon so many emotions-family, love, marriage, trust and yes, even betrayal, and coupled with Julie Christie's mind wandering in and out on the screen, that the film makes an audience appreciate what they have at present, and most importantly, what might happen to a family member in the future.
The debut feature from talented Canadian director Sarah Polley, AWAY FROM HER is a love-story set in a care home involving Fiona Anderson (Julie Christie) and Aubrey (Michael Murphy).
The action takes place during midwinter in the frozen wastes of Canada: the snow on the ground and the crisp winter air offer a fitting metaphor for the state of the Andersons' marriage as Fiona's husband Grant (Gordon Pinsent) comes to the realization that his wife will no longer be living full-time at home, and that their relationship is effectively over.
That is different.Gordon Pinsent gives a quiet, dignified but enthralling performance as Grant, the retired University Professor who travels each day to visit his wife at a care home but feels like a voyeur as Fiona (Julie Christie) gives her affection to wheelchair bound and mute Aubrey (Michael Murphy).Christie's Fiona is glamorous, used to a fine life, skis cross country, wears nice clothes.
As the disease progresses, her loving husband Grant Anderson (played brilliantly by Gordon Pinsent) puts her away in a nursing home where she is cared for round the clock.
In fact, Sarah Polley is able to milk fantastic performances from its entire cast, Gordon Pinsent (who plays Christie's heartbroken husband) and Olympia Dukakis (the wife of Christie's newfound love) included.I didn't fall head over feet for 'Away From Her' for some reason or another, but this poignant film is certainly one which deserves to be seen as it explores territory rarely approached in cinema.
Away From Her (2007) ** 1/2 (out of 4) A husband (Gordon Pinsent) must come to terms with his wife's (Julie Christie) Alzheimer's disease as she slowly begins to forget him and starts a relationship with a crippled man living in her nursing home.
Gordon Pinsent and Olympia Dukakis were superb as the spouses who had to deal with the loss of their loved ones.Sarah Polley has accomplished a magnificent tour de force as writer and director of the outstanding film.
Away from Her explores the world of an ageing couple named Grant (Gordon Pinsent) and Fiona (Julie Christie) whose comfortable retirement becomes complicated by Fiona's affliction with Alzheimer's.
given the subject matter,you might think this film would be depressing,but i didn't find it so.it's about a husband and wife who have been married a long time,when they both notice the wife has been having memory lapses.soon they come to the realization that she has Alzheimer's disease.the rest of the movie deals with their struggle to cope.the meaning of the title is explained very early on,and makes a lot of sense.the acting is superb.that's the word that comes to mind.Julie Christie is the wife,Fiona,and is brilliant in her transformation from loving wife to someone in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's.the transformation is subtle,as is her performance.Gordon Pinsent is equally great as Grant,her husband.Olympia Dukakis is also strong.beyond the performances,the movie itself is very realistic in how it depicts the people afflicted with Alzheimer's,as well as their loved ones.it's also very moving,and is uplifting and even hopeful.i hope Sarah Polley continues to direct,as she has a very great future ahead of her.for me,Away From Her is a 10/10.
Set in cold and snowy Canada the scenes give it a winter and blissful touch of hard love from the beginning showing the love of a married couple for almost 50 years, Grant(Gordon Pinsent)and Fiona(Julie Christie).
It tells the story of Grant (Gordon Pinsent) and Fiona (Julie Christie), a couple in their 60s dealing with the harsh reality of Alzheimer's disease.