Away From Her

The first film written and directed by 28-year-old Canadian actress Sarah Polley, adapted from an Alice Munro story, is amazingly mature, assured, and accomplished. Julie Christie captivates as a woman succumbing to Alzheimer’s, deep blue eyes and good bone structure last even while the mind goes. Gordon Pinsent is thoroughly convincing as her husband of 44 years, no saint but still in love with the woman who no longer recognizes him. The patients and staff of the nursing facility are all well portrayed, and Olympia Dukakis makes the most of a small role as the wife of a man with whom Julie engages in a blank-slate institutionalized romance. A time-fractured editing scheme successfully conveys the disorientation of dementia, and the heart-tugging loss of memory and relationship is both astringent and powerfully moving, allowing for humor and sharp observation along with well-earned tears. This is no “movie of the week” but one of the best of the year. (2007, Images, n.) *8+* (MC-88.)