AWAY FROM HER (The Film Farm/Foundry Films) Mongrel Media

What a downer! Based on a short story ‘The Bear Came Over the Mountain’ – metaphorically speaking – by famed, Canadian author, Alice Monroe, director, Sarah Polley’s Away from Her (2007) is a bittersweet portrait of self-sacrifice in the face of great personal tragedy. Few movies in recent years have exceled in their life-affirming message, when exploring the realities faced by a life-altering illness. And few are as devastating as Alzheimer’s Disease. What devil’s play can suddenly begin to corrupt a healthy mind to the point where the afflicted can no longer even remember basic skills, like the ability to tie one’s shoes, much less, recall the highlights in memory slowly being stolen from them, Away From Her endeavors to present us with a tender portrait of love slipping away, one golden-aged memory at a time. In hindsight, and despite all the accolades and plaudits it immediately received upon its theatrical release, Polley’s directorial debut exposes the seams and struggles of a first-time director. Polley, who also adapted Munro’s tale for the screen, thrusts us into the center of this wounded story and never, not even for a moment, allows for a brief respite from its tragedy. Making the festival circuit before receiving a more widespread release, Away from Her was trumpeted at the time as a clear-eyed reflection on the mental erosion of a love affair that, so obviously had yet to cool for the sufferer’s devoted husband. Receiving 2 Oscar nods, winning neither for Best Actress nor Best Adapted Screenplay, the picture had better success at the Genies, taking home a walloping 7 awards, including Best Motion Picture.

By 2007, the still elegant and refined Julie Christie could be counted upon to deliver the goods as Fiona Anderson, a woman plagued by the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. We first meet Fiona at the start of her struggles, to maintain clarity within the glimmering twilight of her fading self. Living in rural elegance with her devoted husband, Grant (Gordon Pinsent), Fiona misplaces regular household items, forgets how to read common household labels, and, easily gets lost while cross-country skiing outside their home; a hobby she has devoted herself to and sincerely loved for many years. To be certain, there are moments where the fog lifts. Regrettably, the frequency and clairvoyance in these moments has become fewer and far between. Recognizing life as she has come to treasure it is fast approaching an end neither wants to face, Fiona convinces Grant to have her committed to a nearby care facility. The very thought is repugnant to Grant. His concerns are not quelled by a tour of the facility either. It appears quite foreign and remote to him. Staff administrator, Madeleine Montpellier (Wendy Crewson) takes a rather nonchalant and matter-of-fact approach to patients and the care they receive. One of the nurses, Betty (Grace Lynn Kung) advises Grant he would do better to simply accept Fiona’s mental deterioration, divesting himself of his pain, and, concentrate on moving on. Betty also forces Grant to come to terms with his extramarital affairs.

Reluctantly, but at Fiona’s insistence, Grant leaves his wife in professional care with the understanding he will not visit for the first thirty days. However, when he finally returns to the facility, Grant quickly discovers Fiona’s condition has severely worsened, to the extent where she does not even recognize him as her husband. Worse, Grant is stirred to quiet jealousy when Fiona begins a bond with another patient, Aubrey (Michael Murphy). Sensing this innocent – though nevertheless romantic – attachment, Aubrey’s wife, Marian (Olympia Dukakis) returns her husband to her own care, sending Fiona’s already fragile emotional state into a tailspin. His compassion restored, Grant approaches Marian with the possibility of reinstating Aubrey to professional care. An unlikely and flawed romance between Grant and Marian follows. Director Polley has made the most out of author, Munro’s brief tale of gloomy isolation. The story opens on a decidedly relaxed and sustained cadence that comes to a glacial stop as Fiona’s condition worsens.

Julie Christie is in top form, capturing the fragile complexities of the illness without overplaying her hand. Pinsent is remarkable in the role of the husband, conveying so much with sparse dialogue and a dwindling twinkle of reminiscence for the better times, made heart-breaking and unfortunate through his sad old eyes. But Polley has forgotten that movies are meant – first and foremost – to entertain, not educate. Whole portions of Away from Her play with too much of a clinical investment in the ravages of the illness, and not enough into that special glimpse or the personality and lives afflicted by it. If I wanted to watch a documentary about Alzheimer’s Disease, this I could have done without the play-acting involved; however, subtly achieved. And the picture ends with no promise of renewed hope for Grant or Marian, who have ostensibly formed a bond to see them through these rapidly advancing dark hours. So, in the end, Away from Her translates to a very heavy-handed movie in which we sincerely feel we too are steadily losing our grip on reality. Drawing clarity from the diagnosis is one thing. But this movie appears to revel in sadism for the depressing aspects of the disease, enough to thoroughly numb the audience into little more than base self-contemplation of the superficial, ‘that really sucks!’ ilk.  

Mongrel Media’s anamorphic DVD delivers a beautifully sharp and solid visual presentation. Colors are fully saturated. Fine details are evident throughout. Contrast levels are nicely realized with deep velvety blacks and crisp whites. The audio is 5.1 Dolby Digital and delivers a very sublime sonic spread. This is primarily a dialogue driven story and voices always sound natural. Away from Her is available in both a bare bones movie only disc with audio commentary and a special collector’s 2-disc. Only the former was screened for this review. Bottom line: from a standard DVD authoring perspective, this one is a keeper. But as an entertainment, meant to enrich our vocabulary and discussions on the ravages of this paralyzing disease, pass and be very glad that you did.

FILM RATING (out of 5 - 5 being the best)

2

VIDEO/AUDIO

4.5

EXTRAS

1