Diractors is an ongoing series in which Hassle writer Jack Draper examines films, new and old, whose directors are better known for their work in front of the camera.
It dawned on me on this watch of Sarah Polley’s Away From Her that this is as good an end to a life or marriage as we could wish for. As good as things get– meaning the independent decision to take yourself into a living facility, your husband remaining caring and loyal, not allowing the breaking down of your body not get the best of you. It brings together a mix of sadness and beauty to think about how good this is even at the end of a life. Companionship is the thing most desired throughout adulthood, and it slips through your fingers as you age into the time for elder care. A life isn’t cut short; rather the opposite, the best quality of life can only prepare one for the end of their life from simply aging. This contentment is symbolized to me by the use of “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young, an incredibly romantic song that really shows the love Polley has for the Andersons’ marriage.
Despite a few setbacks, Fiona and Grant Anderson (Julie Christie and Gordon Pinsent) have been happily married for almost 40 years. They still possess the beauty of their youth, much like a park bench that has been exposed to the sun for a few seasons. However, they’ve been informed that Fiona has Alzheimer’s. She begins by putting a frying pan in the refrigerator, which is one of the sly early scenes in the film where she appears healthy before beginning to falter. Fiona has so much love remaining for Grant, and he is so accepting of her as a partner that the desire to join this home feels like an independent decision. No cynicism or grumpiness can be found here. Its far too quiet of a film for Polley to overexplain how Fiona feels about leaving Grant, but Grant seeing her slowly lose the memories of their companionship is devastating. Fiona befriends another resident in the home, Aubrey (Michael Murphy). As it turns out, Aubrey has a wife named Marian (Olympia Dukakis), and Grant visits her, at first wondering if she could consider moving her husband to another place. Dukakis imparts a sense of implacable truth. She regards reality without blinking. Their chemistry is so lovely and so much is being unsaid to each other despite their partners being unable to be a part of their lives anymore.
Sarah Polley pursuing this adaptation at 30 years old while telling into the marriage of an elderly couple is wildly impressive. The director shows a strong connection to these characters with empathy and curiosity; it’s easy to see her as a surrogate to the nurse character with whom Grant strikes a relationship. Of course, a majority of actors have the ability to be halfway decent directors but clearly took advice from her previous collaborations. Speaking about this at TIFF, Polley said, “There’s no one way to direct.” Isabel Coixet told her, “There’s one thing you must not care about, then care about everything else so deeply,” while Kathryn Bigelow advised her to be a “dog with a bone” as a woman director, maintaining creative control and never going over budget for any reason. This advice remains strong two decades after her debut. Polley discovered a unique voice, remaining curious when her career as an actor was complete when she hadn’t even hit 30. What Polley really proves with this first screenplay, and taking interest in Julie Christie as Fiona, is her observation of people in difficult circumstances without breaking tension. Since this marriage isn’t about Alzheimer’s but rather the death of a marriage. Nobody is broken up or cheated on but rather the woman once known is no longer here and Grant grieves someone still alive.
Away From Her
2007
dir. Sarah Polley
110 min.
Currently streaming on Kanopy, Tubi, Plex, and Starz
