Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
|
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a remarkably fine, lyrical, sensitive and evocative study of the effects of Alzheimer's disease with an early onset in middle age. Julie Christie gives a moving and thoroughly convincing performance, which is never overstated, sentimental or mawkish. This is not an overly depressing film, though it is extremely sombre in tone, beautifully shot and rooted in the clearly good intentions of a first-class script. There are questionable decisions taken by the characters at certain points within the narrative, which I will not discuss here for obvious reasons of "spoiling" though I would say that they don't necessarily detract from the integrity of the film. Whereas we may not entirely agree with the paths and decisions taken by the characters, it nontheless informs our understanding of this important condition and its impact upon real lives. It also, inevitably provokes debate and discussion, laying a compelling challenge to our pre-conceptions. Wholeheartedly recommended.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
There is a quiet stillness in this film, in the depiction of Altzhiemers. The reaction from the main character to her increasing dementia is largely internal. She goes for beautifully shot walks in the snow. This leads the viewer to struggle with one of the main weaknesses in the plot. Why voluntarily commit yourself to a nursing home when you're still able to function? The film cant really get around this flaw and I was left to question if the character played with a bit too much stoical dignity by Julie Christie was just trying to get away from her husband. That ambiguity may indeed be tied up in the title. Sara Polley the director, who is also a brilliant actress directs a thoughtful film that largely shies away from tackling its subject with as much messy reality as it needs.I did enjoy it though an its worth a watch!
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
"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 and when she becomes lost in the cold she makes the decision to enter a facility for care. Fiona and her husband, Grant, a retired professor, played by Gordon Pinsent , live on a lake in Ontario and have been married for over 40 years. Loving, fulfilled years and they seem the happy, retired couple. This movie is so well played that we enter into the mindset of both Fiona and Grant and have a glimpse of what their lives might be like. First from the person involved with Alzheimer's and then from the partner's perspective. Julie Christie, one of the most beautiful of actresses, remains as lovely and serene as ever. As Fiona she plays this part with extreme serenity and intelligence. Gordon Pinsent, her husband Grant, is a charismatic man and his part is played with subtlety and perfection. Kristen Thomson, the lead nurse at the facility is wonderful with her compassion, knowledge and insight.
At an early point in their marriage, Grant had affairs with his younger students and even though Fiona stayed there seems to be an unspoken anger within her. At times you wonder if some of her symptoms and behavior are not exaggerated by her anger. At the facility, Fiona becomes involved in the daily life of a man, Aubrey, and 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 and Grant visits daily and sits and 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 all.
"In a refreshingly direct, unassuming manner, "Away From Her" considers two great human mysteries: the persistence of love and 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 and forward into the waiting darkness. I can't remember the last time the movies yielded up a love story so painful, so tender and so true." A. O Scott
Highly, highly Recommended. prisrob 02-09-08
Fiona, Julie Christie, is in the midst of Alzheimer's. She is having symptoms and when she becomes lost in the cold she makes the decision to enter a facility for care. Fiona and her husband, Grant, a retired professor, played by Gordon Pinsent , live on a lake in Ontario and have been married for over 40 years. Loving, fulfilled years and they seem the happy, retired couple. This movie is so well played that we enter into the mindset of both Fiona and Grant and have a glimpse of what their lives might be like. First from the person involved with Alzheimer's and then from the partner's perspective. Julie Christie, one of the most beautiful of actresses, remains as lovely and serene as ever. As Fiona she plays this part with extreme serenity and intelligence. Gordon Pinsent, her husband Grant, is a charismatic man and his part is played with subtlety and perfection. Kristen Thomson, the lead nurse at the facility is wonderful with her compassion, knowledge and insight.
At an early point in their marriage, Grant had affairs with his younger students and even though Fiona stayed there seems to be an unspoken anger within her. At times you wonder if some of her symptoms and behavior are not exaggerated by her anger. At the facility, Fiona becomes involved in the daily life of a man, Aubrey, and 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 and Grant visits daily and sits and 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 all.
"In a refreshingly direct, unassuming manner, "Away From Her" considers two great human mysteries: the persistence of love and 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 and forward into the waiting darkness. I can't remember the last time the movies yielded up a love story so painful, so tender and so true." A. O Scott
Highly, highly Recommended. prisrob 02-09-08
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Away from her
Love Julie Christie and have a relative with Dementia, who hasn't these day's ? So gave it a go, but found it a little hard going and on the depressing side. Read more
Published 1 month ago by jules
Well, Hello Julie, It's So Nice to Have You Back Where You Belong, On...
"Away From Her," a Canadian drama/romance, stars the radiant English actress Julie Christie, whom we haven't seen nearly enough of recently, in a great part, that might have been... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Stephanie DePue
TOTALLY UNREALISTIC
This movie is a comedy. Imagine someone with
Alzheimer's saying "well, I think it's time to
go to the nursing home now. Read more
Alzheimer's saying "well, I think it's time to
go to the nursing home now. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Stephanie C. Wood
great service
Good product!
In perfect woking order. Arrived brand new.
Partner was very happy to see this film, as watched it on tv and wanted it for his collection! :)
In perfect woking order. Arrived brand new.
Partner was very happy to see this film, as watched it on tv and wanted it for his collection! :)
Published 14 months ago by Hannah_223
Heartbreaking yet wonderful
It's been a long long time since a movie has moved me so much- to tears in fact. The utter sadness I felt for the male character and the hopelessness someone must feel in the same... Read more
Published 17 months ago by M. Singleton
Very moving
I watched this last night, staying up til 1.30 to do so, which I never do. I found it deeply affecting, and cried several times, and the feeling of it has stayed with me all day. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Pattycake
Heartbreaking
The great strength of this is the acting. All the actors are subtle and completely believable. I felt I was watching people's lives rather than a 'performance'. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Ms. A. E. Milton
A Remarkable and Poignant Film
This is a fine, lyrical, sensitive and evocative study of the effects of Alzheimer's disease with an early onset in middle age. Read more
Published on 6 April 2009 by Callum Doone
A very personal response
This was a very poignant film for me as I have recently been diagnosed as having a rare type of Alzheimer's Disease. Read more
Published on 2 April 2009 by Ms. Shelagh Robinson
Not as good as I expected
I thought it was a good film, but there was a lot in the beginning of the Story that wasn`t true to life, to be honest I thought after I had watched it, why did I buy it.
Published on 12 Mar 2009 by A. E. Crittell
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
