Customer Reviews
Lost for words - By: D. J. Charnock, 24 Jun 2008 
What in heavens name possessed such a fine set of individual actors to do such an unispired, drab & lumbering film? The direction was laboured & disjointed; surely the actors must have thought from time to time, "where are we going with this"? Yes, this is a sensitive subject, yes this is something which effects many people around the world, & yes this potrays the emotions & dilemmas that many face daily. But is this a real & accurate view of these issues? And, is it entertainment? I have to say that I feel the answer to both these questions is NO. I found the script poorly put together, which coupled with the too light direction meant that the final product was a dissappointment.
heartbreaking story! - By: D. Leggatt, 19 May 2008 
Loved this film, found it amazingly tough to watch, sincere empathy for the husband!!!! I agree that for anyone who has first hand experience of such a debilitating illness it may not be a true reflection of how distressing it can be for everyone involved, but for my money it does a great job introducing the concept of what can happen.
Thumbs up, would recommend this film highly. Another great film is The Sea Inside - look it up - you won't be disappointed!!!!
Airbushed Alzheimer's - By: Lendrick, 17 May 2008 
This is too sanitised a portrayal of Alzheimer's to justify the plaudits it has recivied, much as I am a fan of Julie Christie I don't think her performance here justifies the many awards. I have seen the impact of Alzheimer's at first hand, how distressing it is for the sufferer, & how it strips them of their dignity, there is none of that in this film. Christie remains poised & elegant throughout.
For me the best perfomance in the film is Kristen Thomson as the nurse, conveying just right note of unsentimantal compassion.
The film does have a certain emotional clout, but overalll the film is just too understated & glossy, too many shots of snowy lanscapes & Christie looking as beautiful as ever. Too little off the real impact of Alzheimer's
Kudos to Polley - By: B., 28 Feb 2008 Away From Her in equal parts broke my heart, terrified me, & restored my faith in human kindness. This is a film about the path of destruction Alzheimer's leaves in its wake. The three leads... the always classy Julie Christie, Gordon Pinsent & Olympia Dukakis, are alll at the top of their game. And kudos to Sarah Polley for her excellent writing & direction - in lesser hands a film like this could've ended up with a Halllmark movie-of-the-week feel.
Instead we're gifted with an incredibly intimate portrait of the complexity of relationships as they morph through the years. Great viewing, just be careful... it sticks with you long after the final credits roll.
From Lovers to Strangers - By: pris, 25 Feb 2008 
"Don't worry, I'm just losing my mind" she quips when he catches her absently putting a frying pan in the freezer. But it's not a joke: Fiona has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's." Dennis Harvey
Fiona, Julie Christie, is in the midst of Alzheimer's. She is having symptoms & when she becomes lost in the cold she makes the decision to enter a facility for care. Fiona & her husband, Grant, a retired professor, played by Gordon Pinsent , live on a lake in Ontario & have been married for over 40 years. Loving, fulfilled years & they seem the happy, retired couple. This movie is so well played that we enter into the mindset of both Fiona & Grant & have a glimpse of what their lives might be like. First from the person involved with Alzheimer's & then from the partner's perspective. Julie Christie, one of the most beautiful of actresses, remains as lovely & serene as ever. As Fiona she plays this part with extreme serenity & intelligence. Gordon Pinsent, her husband Grant, is a charismatic man & his part is played with subtlety & perfection. Kristen Thomson, the lead nurse at the facility is wonderful with her compassion, knowledge & insight.
At an early point in their marriage, Grant had affairs with his younger students & even though Fiona stayed there seems to be an unspoken anger within her. At times you wonder if some of her symptoms & behavior are not exaggerated by her anger. At the facility, Fiona becomes involved in the daily life of a man, Aubrey, & seems at times to have forgotten who Grant is. The issue of finding another soul to hang onto when you are going down this path of the unknown seems to me to be a human need. And, as Fiona says to Grant, "Aubrey does not confuse me". Many lovely scenes ensue as the Alzheimer's progresses & Grant visits daily & sits & watches his wife slowly slipping away. Grant does become involved with life again but in his mind Fiona comes first. The life of partners when one has Alzheimer's should be viewed by alll.
"In a refreshingly direct, unassuming manner, "Away From Her" considers two great human mysteries: the persistence of love & the workings of the brain. It takes the twilight of a long, mostly happy marriage as a vantage point from which to look back at youth & forward into the waiting darkness. I can't remember the last time the movies yielded up a love story so painful, so tender & so true." A. O Scott
Highly, highly Recommended. prisrob 02-09-08
