07 May, 2007

away from her



``Sarah Polley both wrote and directed the film, which stars veteran Canadian actor Gordon Pinsent and Oscar winners Julie Christie and Olympia Dukakis. Polley adapted the screenplay from the shortstory “The Bear Came Over the Mountain” by celebrated Canadian author Alice Munro. Atom Egoyan is the film’s executive producer.''

the distressingly precocious 28-year-old talks about her film:




Reel reviews..

In a way, this is a story about grief. Grant is losing his wife years before he will have to officially bury her, and he feels that loss keenly. Yet, because she is still living, he remains caught between his memories and the faint hope that she may still have moments of lucidity in her. He is guilt-ridden, too, —the infidelities of his teaching years haunt him. Christie is fantastic; this is simply a great performance as we, like Grant, witness Fiona's disintegration. But as great as she is, the film belongs to Pinsent, an actor who is little known in the United States but a giant in his native Canada. In limning Grant's love and devotion for this woman who is slipping away, he gives a mesmerizing, resonant performance, one that will break your heart.
For actress-turned-filmmaker Polley, Away from Her marks quite an achievement. Nothing in her vivid screenplay or adroit direction gives one to believe that this is a freshman effort. The film suggests the work of a veteran artist at the top of her game. Polley is starting from a very lofty place. We can only marvel at what she might do next


at the risk of repeating myself... i will say one word: CANADA

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

But I've seen the trailer and it looks so mawkish you can almost feel the sentimentality dripping off the screen. Even my American friend J. said she thought it looked too sappy.

I'm withholding judgement until I've seen the film.

Anonymous said...

well....there is the risk BUT having followed the lass's career assiduously...and seen her deal with tragedy on multiple occasions where the subject matter could have descended into the unsufferably cloying and maudlin. i've seen it averted...
my life without me...
the secret life of words...

frankly.the girl can do no wrong. am supremely confident. though clearly have yet to see.

FKJ said...
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