Away from Her
dir. Sarah Polley · 2007
Feature
Memory Loss
Mood
Melancholic / Contemplative
Look
soft, naturalistic cinematography with intimate framing
Structure
linear progression with flashbacks
Plot
Fiona and Grant have been married for nearly 50 years. They have to face the fact that Fiona’s absent-mindedness is a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. She must go to a specialized nursing home, where she slowly forgets Grant and turns her affection to Aubrey, another patient in the home.
Why watch
"Away from Her" is a tender exploration of love's endurance against the ravages of Alzheimer's, capturing the bittersweet essence of memory and the profound loneliness that accompanies loss. Sarah Polley's directorial debut invites viewers to reflect on the fragility of human connection and the heart-wrenching beauty of letting go.
Talking points
- the impact of Alzheimer's on relationships
- the nature of love and memory
- ethical considerations in caregiving
- the portrayal of aging in cinema
Cultural context
aging population discoursesocietal views on dementiathe role of caregivingthe impact of memory on identity