Away From Her

A nice coup for our Friends of the Library tonight with their “Reel Mondays” film series. Tonight they are showing Away From Her, a film directed by Sarah Polley (of Anne of Green Gables fame). The film debuted to great acclaim at the Toronto Film Festival this past fall. It isn’t due for general release until May 4, so the Friends’ showing may be an Edmonton or even Alberta premiere! [Leave a comment if this incorrect].

Away From Her stars Julie Christie, Gordon Pinsent and Olympia Dukakis. It is based on an Alice Munro short story, “The Bear Came Over the Mountain” which was published in her 2001 collection, Hateship Friendship Courtship Loveship Marriage. The story and the film focus on a husband losing his beloved wife to Alzheimer's. For a stunning theatrical look at the same topic, check out Theatre Network's production of a world premiere play by Eugene Stickland: Closer and Closer Apart. James DeFelice as the ailing father and Sue Huff as the concerned daughter are absolutely fabulous. The play runs to May 6.

The Globe had a piece by Joanna Schneller on Sarah Polley on the weekend. 28 year old film veteran! On the Cannes festival jury!

** Update May 4 - Outstanding reviews for the film's debut:

• 3 1/2 stars from the notoriously stingy Globe (Liam Lacey)
• 90 points from the NY Times (A.O. Scott): "I can't remember the last time the movies yielded up a love story so painful, so tender and so true."
• 84 overall rating from Metacritic