Away From Her

FLICK Sarah Polley, recently seen acting in the delightful theater-satire “Slings & Arrows” airing on Sundance Channel, makes an impressive directing debut with Away From Her, a perceptive and subtle film, contrasting the heart and mind. This somber character study adapted from the Alice Munro short story "The Bear Came Over the Mountain" concerns the effects of Alzheimer’s on a 44-year marriage. Julie Christie gives a thoughtful and heartfelt performance as Fiona, a woman in her 60s strong enough to go cross-country skiing but unable to fight the disease. When Fiona puts a frying pan in the freezer, it not only shows her mental deterioration, but symbolizes her nourishing marriage turning cold. Her husband Grant, played with equal sincerity by Gordon Pinsent, has a more difficult time adjusting to Fiona’s condition as she enters a nursing home and must wait 30 days before visiting. As he fades from her memory, he watches helplessly as Fiona bonds with mute and wheelchair-bound Aubrey (Michael Murphy). Grant meets Aubrey’s wife Marian (Olympia Dukakis), a severe woman who becomes an outlet for him to cope with his loss and express emotions. Polley makes good use of the brisk and snowy Canadian setting to illustrate Grant’s ongoing struggle, staying overly clothed with sweaters and coats to keep the embers of passion burning inside. Away From Her will tug at your heart in ways you won’t forget. Screened April 15 at the 2007 Philadelphia Film Festival. My score: 9 out of 10.