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Sunday, January 20, 2008

Away from Her

Away from Her is a beautiful little collage of a film about the end of a marriage but not of a relationship. It is the story of a woman with Alzheimer's and her husband's life as he learns to deal with what this means to his life with a woman he clearly adores.

The scenes are pulled together this way and that until they form a whole and you understand some of what this couple (Gordon Pinsent and Julie Christie) experienced through a nearly 50 year marriage. It can be confusing until you begin to see the tapestry as a portrait of a relationship and of how the mind works. As much as his wife is losing her mind, the husband still has his but its a mixed collection of what is, what must be, and what he is losing.

It is beautifully filmed against a snowy Canadian landscape with the kind of cabin everyone would love to own deep in the woods, warmly furnished depicting both the history of the man (it was his mother's home) but also of who this couple was. To me the landscape where they live is one more piece of the collage.

The three main characters include Olympia Dukakis who is Marion, the wife of a man living in the facility where Fiona goes to live once her condition becomes too advanced to be safe in her own home. Grant, a retired college professor, is the center of the story as it is he who must cope with loss. His love transcends the physical although the story lets us know this had not been a perfect marriage as there was an (maybe more than one) earlier affair which Fiona had forgiven Grant or had she?

Even when Marion and Grant have an affair, based on their partners falling in love with each other and Marion and Grant's mutual need and loss, she sees that he will never love her as he does Fiona. Marion is an ordinary (although very attractive) woman unlike Fiona who is a goddess with almost surreal beauty, vitality, and liveliness; even the lines in her face give her a poetic grace that is every bit as powerful as the beauty she had as a girl.

Watching Julie Christie be her age and so beautiful is a pleasure. She was always a gorgeous woman, but her aging, yet sensual beauty is a pleasure to watch. Too bad more actresses haven't aged naturally as when you see those who are obviously the age they are, you realize the others have lost something worth far more in their hopeless quest for youth.

This might not be a movie to watch if you are feeling down as it tugs at the heart. Save it for a day when you are ready to look at life in its fullness. It's also not a documentary on what Alzheimer's is like because it can be very different for different people. This is however, more than a film about a disease, it's a film about relationships and the fullest meaning of love.

For another review and quite a few scenes from this film, check out Away from Her by Old Old Lady in the Hills. Her reviews of films are always excellent and this one was no exception. It was one of the things that encouraged me to watch it despite knowing it was a sad topic.

9 comments:

Fran aka Redondowriter said...

I'll rent this, Rain, but will wait until a time when I can tolerate a lot of sadness. Like violence in films, sadness and reality is OK now and then if it is appropriate. And this sounds like it is.

Sandy said...

I saw this movie when it first came out. It was a little confusing at first but once you get watching it all falls into place. I agree, not one to watch if you are feeling a little down.

Anonymous said...

Spunds like a good movie Rain !

Anonymous said...

After reading Naomi's review of this, I did add it to my Netflix list. Haven't seen it yet though.
You did a nice review of it and I'm sure I'll see it eventually. That list of mine on Netflix just keeps growing!
Terri
http://www.islandwriter.net

robin andrea said...

This movie is number 3 in my Netflix queue. It says I have a bit of a wait to get it. Now, I'm really looking forward to when it finally gets here.

Joy Des Jardins said...

Julie Christie has gotten rave reviews for her role in this movie. I'm definiely adding it to my Netflix queue. Thanks Rain.

Anonymous said...

This sounds like a good movie, Rain, but I think I would be too sad to see it. Maybe wintertime isn't the best time for me to view it!

Diane Widler Wenzel said...

"Away from Her" sounds like a must see.

Dick said...

That sounds like a good movie but I am not sure if Pat and I are ready for it yet. There are more ways to loose the love of your life and that is different from our experience but perhaps in some ways harder to deal with than death. We were given a copy of "The Notebook" for Christmas but haven't watched it yet either.