Bay Area Film Fan

Ok, Tilda Swinton must have been absolutely amazing in Michael Clayton (I haven’t see it yet) because to win the Oscar over Julie Christie in Away from Her is a feat I didn’t think could happen. That’s how brilliant Christie is in this film. She is so brilliant that nobody is talking about the incredible performance of Gordon Pinsent as her loving, yet remorseful, husband and the delicate directing and writing job of Sarah Polley. This is just a phenomenal film. My wife starting crying about 10 minutes into the film and didn’t stop until the final credits. It connects with you that strongly.

What I loved most about this film was the sublime acting by everyone in this film and the director’s willingness to let it carry the narrative. There is nothing fancy about this film; the cinematography, editing, art direction and music are all invisible — it is truly an actor’s script and an actor’s film. The director gets out of the way and lets two amazing talents take us on a journey of love, devotion and sacrifice that I haven’t seen since Million Dollar Baby.

While this film could have easily become an Alzheimer’s film, Polley deftly keeps the narrative focused on the love story between Christie and Pinsent and in the end we realize the power of love, forgiveness and selflessness rather than just the tragedy of a terrible disease. It’s a film that will resonate with anyone who has had to deal with a loved one that is sick. Make sure to bring a box of tissues because anybody that doesn’t cry in this film isn’t human. It’s that powerful.

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Film Website: http://www.memory-catcher.net/