Away from Her (2007)

In the golden twilight of their lives, Grant and Fiona Anderson, married for an extraordinary forty-four years, find themselves grappling with a heart-rending reality. Having shared a vibrant life, marred only by some indiscretions during Grant's tenure as a college professor, they are now facing the creeping shadows of Alzheimer's disease, a cruel thief slowly stealing Fiona's memories. The decision to admit Fiona to Meadowlake, a long-term care facility nestled in the heart of southwestern Ontario, is a poignant one, made with shared understanding and profound love. Fiona's acceptance of her fate is more serene than Grant's, her lucidity offering a tender resilience. However, the facility's policy of a thirty-day isolation period for new admissions, meant to ease the transition into this unfamiliar world, weighs heavily on Grant, amplifying his sense of loss and separation. The facility's second floor, a place for those further down this heart-wrenching journey, serves as a grim reminder of the inevitability they face. When the thirty-day isolation period ends, Grant's hopeful reunion is punctured by a heartbreaking discovery. Fiona, his lifelong companion, seems to have forgotten him, her affections now inexplicably tethered to Aubrey Barque, a wheelchair-bound, mute patient, whose own wife Marian is grappling with a similar fate. Aubrey's semi-comatose state and Fiona's newfound friendship with him present a complex and emotionally charged dynamic that Grant must navigate. Torn between his own emotions and the desire to ensure Fiona's happiness in this challenging landscape, Grant forges a delicate alliance with Marian. Together, they carve a path towards acceptance and self-sacrifice, driven by an enduring love that refuses to dim even in the face of adversity. "Away from Her" is a poignant exploration of love's resilience, the fragility of memory, and the indomitable human spirit's capacity for adaptation and sacrifice.

Away from Her is a drama movie featuring Julie Christie and directed by Sarah Polley.

Away from Her is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy, Pluto TV and Tubi TV and it's also available on Hoopla.

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