By BYJACKNEWORTH NEWDVDRELEASES
When I first learned the subject matter of “Away From Her,” I was hesitant. Just released on DVD a week ago, “Away” deals with the pain of watching a loved one succumb to Alzheimer’s. My mother was afflicted with the disease for the last seven years of her life. But first-time writer/director Sarah Polley’s adaptation of Alice Munro’s 1999 short story, “The Bear Came Over the Mountain,” is so moving watching the movie was cathartic.
Polley is a respected Canadian actress in her late 20s. It’s remarkable that a person so young handled this material with such sensitivity and got such fine performances out of the cast. I suppose working with Julie Christie, Gordon Pinsent, Olympia Dukakis and Michael Murphy, made it a little easier, but every actor, however small their part, rose to the occasion. When that occurs it tells me the ensemble shared a vision, generally inspired by the writer, and for which the director deserves great credit.
Christie plays Fiona, who along with her husband of 44 years, Grant (Gordon Pinsent), a retired English professor, live in a wonderful house on the shore of a lake in Ontario. The two are the picture of the ideal senior married life, attractive, sexually fulfilled and intellectually compatible. But Fiona suffers lapses of memory, which are initially comical, but become more worrisome as the film continues. During dinner, as Fiona offers guests more to drink, she painfully forgets the word “wine.” It was remarkable how many of these incidents in the movie were so true to life in my mother’s case.
In time Fiona comes to realize that she is “disappearing bit by bit.” Out of concern for her husband, and in search of “a little bit of grace,” Fiona concludes she needs to move to an assisted-living facility. Grant, and perhaps the audience, wishes the two could continue on, however difficult. (That’s what I was wishing.) Finally Grant relents to the move on a “trial” basis, though we know it will be permanent.
At Meadowlake, Fiona’s condition gets progressively worse. Complicating matters, she forms a co-dependent attachment with fellow patient Aubrey (Murphy) who is helpless without her. Grant visits Fiona daily, bringing flowers and books but, while she recognizes him from day to day, she treats him as if he were a pathetic suitor rather than her husband of so many years. Grant is naturally jealous. In his darkest moments, he wonders if she is perhaps getting even for his having been unfaithful many years ago, but his love for her never wavers. In one of Grant’s visits, he watches from a couch as his wife dotes on Aubrey. He’s joined by a rebellious teenage girl with piercings and an iPod who’s at Meadowlake reluctantly visiting a relative. The teenager assumes Grant is a resident. When she learns of his situation, and senses what that must feel like, the two connect, for just a moment, in a touching and believable way.
When Aubrey is discharged (financial reasons) Fiona goes into a deep depression. Caring deeply for his wife, Grant awkwardly reaches out to Marian, (Dukakis) Aubrey’s wife. He tries to persuade her to have Aubrey set a date visit to Fiona. Marian objects, but in time, Grant’s and her relationship deepens with a somewhat unexpected outcome.
Christie is exceptional, as is Pinsent whose character Grant carries the movie. Either or both should have received Oscar nominations. The writing, direction and the entire cast make “Away From Her” a must-see. It’s a wonderful, simple and truthful movie.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 22, 2007. Read the original PDF.