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(Dir. Sarah Polley, 2007) When I first heard what the story of this film was I thought it might be a candidate for the saddest premise ever. Julie Christie plays a woman suffering from Alzheimer's whose loving husband (Gordon Pinsent) has to deal with having her institutionalized and bearing witnessing her fall in love with another man - a mute (except for some whimpering)fellow patient portrayed by Michael Murphy. See what I mean? Saddest. Premise. Ever. But that Comic Book Store Guy cheapness is uncalled for because, as someone describes Christie in the film, this has too much class for that. No false rhythms or maniputlations here, even the typical fractured storyline has a one piece of the puzzle at a time thing happening doesn't feel as it does often as a filmmaker showing off.

In the early scenes there is a romantic, not romanticizing, introduction to this old married couple's current life and situation. On a walk through the snow near their cabin, while admiring some flowers Christie remarks "sometimes there's something delicious about oblivion" as she admits she forgets the color yellow immediately after looking away. For her to be admitted to the Meadowlake Treatment Facility Christie and Pinsent, to his protest, have to be separated for 30 days while she settles in. After this period Pinsent returns to find his wife huddled beside the wheelchaired always unhappy-looking Murphy who they both know from the past. That this past is never fully explained but hinted at is one of the film's many subtle charms. Simple lines of dialogue say so much while fleeting shots from the principle's memories say much more so there is no need for elaborate exposition or full flashback scenes - we get all the backstory implications that we need.

Pinsent takes comfort by consoling with Murphy's sardonic wife played by Olivia Dukakis who has been through the same tribulations but from a different angle of angst. Much of the motions these characters are going through can be painful to watch throughout "Away From Her" but the aching adds to the overwhelming beauty of the piece. Polley's fluid pacing and choice of music (Neil Young's "Harvest Moon" sweetly serenades Pinsent and Christie as they slow dance one of the last nights before her hospitalization) is note perfect. There are many quotations throughout as books are read out loud (Auden's "Letters From Iceland", Macloed's "No Great Mischief", and even bits from Alzheimer's info guides) making this the first movie I've seen recently that has "Quotes and Excerpts" listed in the end credits the same as soundtrack selections. Through all of these well choosen details it's the lead performances by Pinsent and Christie that make this a must see. Christie's connection with the clouded confusion of Alzheimer's combined with Pinsent's attempt to keep his dignity through his helpless desperation is heartbreaking again and again. Whatever this nearly flawless film's fate award-wise it will be surely loved by people for ages - it's a genuine "tearjerker" and I mean that in the least cynical sense of the word.

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