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Reviewed by Steve Rogers
Film:	A
Video Quality:	A-
Audio Quality:	B
Special Features:	C-
DVD Review:	B

I'm not particularly fond of medical dramas, or those TV disease-of-the-week movies, so it was with some trepidation that I approached Away From Her, the directorial debut effort from actress Sarah Polley. But Polley, who also scripted the story (based on Alice Munro's short story "The Bear Came Over the Mountain") has produced a work of masterful sensitivity and insight into the devastation that Alzheimer's Disease ultimately wreaks upon one aging couple's marriage. Polley also secured the acting abilities of Julie Christie, the great veteran British actress who has been largely absent from the screen in recent years. But the two share a kindred spirit in their uncompromising artistic visions and the result manifests itself onscreen with amazingly assured performances from both lead actress and director.

Christie plays Fiona Anderson, whose marriage to Grant (Gordon Pinsent), a retired mythology professor, seems comfortably idyllic, lived out of their stylish cottage in rural Canada. They go on long cross country ski trips, and sit by the fire during placid evenings at home pondering literature over sips of wine. But gradually the symptoms of Fiona's disease begin to creep into the picture and when she gets lost on a solo ski trip, Fiona takes the initiative much to Grant's dismay and decides the time has come for her to move to a nursing home. There she forms an unusual but strong attachment to a mute patient named Aubrey (a disheveled looking Michael Murphy), while Grant, a measure of stoic reserve perfectly played by Pinsent, can only stand by and watch as his wife slowly drifts away from him. Strong supporting performances by Olympia Dukakis as Aubrey's frustrated wife and Kristen Thomson as a sympathetic nurse help bolster this low-key yet compelling drama of life and loss.

But this fine film belongs to Christie, who gives a performance of such depth and vulnerability that it ranks with her best work and is sure to be recognized come awards season. She is no longer the swinging mod chick who wowed audiences in the Sixties and Seventies with her regal good looks, but she is no less beautiful and still radiant onscreen even with the added years etched upon her face.

Sarah Polley has crafted an incredibly self-assured film for a first-time director, with a mastery of behind-the-camera technique that belies her youth. She even manages to insert an ironic political barb into the film. As Fiona and Grant watch news reports of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in the nursing home's common room, Fiona mournfully intones, "How could they forget Vietnam?" It's not likely that Polley's first film will be forgotten soon.

Video Quality

Picture quality was uniformly excellent in this visually impressive effort that contains a surprising array of locales and settings. From the darker interior scenes of the couple's cottage to the brightly lit environs of the nursing home, picture clarity was splendid and colors rich and vibrant throughout. The 1.85:1 anamorphic framing beautifully captures Polley's wonderful shots of snowbound landscapes as well as dramatic close-ups during more intimate scenes.

Audio Quality

The film features a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track that is used with subtlety to enhance the emotional resonance of the film. Effects are primarily limited to the front channels with noticeable left-right interaction, and the surrounds employed occasionally for added effect. Polley relies on the music of Neil Young to complement the film's melancholy moods and it sounds great in 5.1. k.d. lang's version of Young's "Helpless" over the closing credits is heartbreakingly gorgeous.

Special Features

The special features are limited to a group of deleted scenes with commentary by Sarah Polley, and a commentary track for the movie featuring only Christie. Polley's sparse analysis is thoughtfully articulated and leaves you wanting more from the soft-spoken director. Unfortunately, only Christie appears on the main commentary and she seems slightly befuddled by the format as she frequently veers away from the onscreen subject matter in favor of anecdotes and general reminiscing. But it is great to hear this accomplished actress speak in glowing terms about Polley's talent.

Summary

Away From Her is a striking emotional portrait of the effects of Alzheimer's Disease on family life. The fact that this film presents its subject on realistic terms with subtly nuanced performances throughout confirms the stellar achievements of the actors and director. It is a fully realized work made all the more amazing by the director's rookie status. We will definitely hear more from Sarah Polley. The fine technical merits of the disc's video and audio quality are undercut however by a dearth of special features.