Cast: Julie Christie, Gordon Pinsent, Olympia Dukakis

Director: Sarah Polley

Screenplay: Sarah Polley

Running time: 1 hour 50 mins

Genre: Drama/Romance


REVIEW:



Alzheimer-disease stories are hard to come by. But when they do, everything becomes melodramatic. They are tales that serves as magnets to tragic romance, teary-eyed contemplation, and souls that struggle with the fading of memories and feelings. The last surviving example was the brilliant THE NOTEBOOK. Now, with AWAY FROM HER, it was set to become the best Alzheimer-cum-love-story of them all – or is it?


First, let’s face the facts. This directorial debut from indie actress Sarah Polley is pretty impressive. Instead of tracking the trail to Hollywood superstardom, she opts for lesser, less-lit indie projects with pride and dignity. And this film is a stunning testament that she can hold her own limelight, with deft skill behind the camera, knowing that she’s only 28 and she’s got a long way to go indeed. But here, that skill is shown, not only in her palette (a sprawling landscape of wintry scenery, with scenes literally bathed in broad, white, almost-blinding daylight) but she never loses sight of her characters beyond the blizzard of snow, giving them space to sparkle with such lustre.


Now, the story. This is about a couple who hasn’t been separated for 45 years, only until wife Fiona (Julie Christie) suffers from Alzheimer’s and decided to check into a nursing home, leaving husband Grant (Gordon Pinsent) to face life alone, memories melting along the wintry wind. For this type of drama, it almost a perfect setting to get depressed, feeling heavy and bursting-to-tears all of a sudden, as the tale of this couple unfolds in the screen. Fiona gives her husband a space for him not to suffer her illness, while Grant suffers only more when she’s not there with him. It’s a thoughtful film, a kind of tale that will have you contemplating about your own sake in the future by the time your brain cells starts getting fed up with you, and its result to the people around you. By far, it’s an ethical exploration to disastrous effects of Alzheimer’s.


Finally, the performances. By the love of God, Julie Christie deserved her Golden Globe Best Actress nod. For a 66-year old actress, she can still shine like a sparkling diamond even in the whiteness of the landscape. Her portrayal of this woman losing grip is almost effortless, utterly convincing, although some of her scenes involve her staring into oblivion. Gordon Pinsent as the husband is equally compelling too, with a gruff, dishevelled look as though anger on life sizzles quietly yet at the same time, a hint of resignation on his face can be traced; a tired individual who feels hopeless beyond repair. One poignant scene was when he was sitting in the corner, looking blankly into the room filled with visiting people, then it all blends slowly, showing people leaving their loved ones, the patients left virtually alone by themselves.


VERDICT:


AWAY FROM HER is too sombre and often heavy-lidded to watch, so be warned. While Julie Christie gives a heartbreaking performance, and Sarah Polley offers an impressive directorial debut, it is bathed in dignity and emotion, gladly not resulting to melodrama.



RATING: B+