NEWS

The Davidson Film Club is pleased to invite you to a screening and discussion of the Oscar-nominated Canadian film Away from Her on Saturday, May 21, at 7:00 p.m. IN THE ARMOUR STREET THEATRE!

“No one dreams of the twilight transpiring in Away from Her, but, in its words, it’s not bad luck. It’s just life. You can’t beat life.”
Directed by Sarah Polley
Canada (2006, 1h50)
In English

Discussion of the film will be led by Véronique Singerman, RN, MSN in Community Health Nursing, with six years experience in geriatric care at Huntersville Oaks Nursing Home, two of which were spent on the Alzheimer’s Unit.

 *The Davidson Film Club is delighted to have returned to the Armour Street Theatre since the last month! Like so many other venues in our community at this time, we encourage our patrons to wear a mask but do not require it. We will have N95 or KN95 masks available at the door for those who need one.

 Away from Her replaces a film in the series interrupted by the onset of COVID-19 in Winter-Spring 2020. Davidson Film Club members at that time may attend this screening and discussion at no charge.

 Walk-ins are welcome, $9 at the door, cash or check (no credit cards). Walk-ins must apply for a seat in advance at [email protected]. Walk-in seats are limited by availability.

Film Summary:

Grant and Fiona Anderson have been married for forty-four years. Their marriage has been a generally happy and loving one, although not perfect due to some indiscretions on Grant’s part when he was a college professor. Fiona has just been admitted to Meadowlake, a long-term care facility near their country home in southwestern Ontario, because her recent lapses of memory have been diagnosed as a probable case of Alzheimer’s disease. She and Grant make this decision together, although a still lucid Fiona seems to have made peace with the decision and her diagnosis more so than Grant. Grant plunges into an emotional abyss after moving Fiona into the facility and watching her turn her affections toward Aubrey, a male resident. . .

Nominated for 2 Oscars plus 62 wins and 39 nominations, including Golden Globes winner for Best Performance by an Actress and 25 additional Best Actress awards for Julie Christie, an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for Sarah Polley, and multiple Best First Feature, Best Director, and additional Best Screenplay prizes for Polley.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus: “An accomplished directorial debut by Sarah Polley, Away From Her is a touching exploration of the effects of Alzheimer’s, in which the tender wisdom of Polley’s script is beautifully complemented by a wonderful performance from Julie Christie.”

“Beautifully written, from an Alice Munro short story, this movie directed by an actress rarely missteps, even when it bravely includes the dark humor inherent in this situation.” Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

 “Polley displays a keen understanding of the sense of confusion and loss that goes along with Alzheimer’s, and she handles it well, guiding the film with warmth, humor, and heart.” Matthew Lucas, From the Front Row

“An honest and compassionate look at the effects of dementia on an older couple’s relationship, Away from Her is very powerful and affecting. . .” Audience Review

“No one dreams of the twilight transpiring in Away from Her, but, in its words, it’s not bad luck. It’s just life. You can’t beat life. A tenderly told tragedy about Alzheimer’s Disease’s erosive effects, Sarah Polley’s film avoids movie-of-the-week sap.” Nick Rogers, The Film Yap

 “Sarah Polley, still so young, always until now an actress, emerges here as a director who is in calm command of almost impossible material. The movie says as much for her strength of character as for her skills. Anyone who could read Munro’s original story and think they could make a film of it, and then make a great film, deserves a certain awe.” Roger Ebert, Roger Ebert.com

Our updated website at www.davidsonfilmclub.com features the whole current series (January-June 2022) and film descriptions. Have you Bookmarked it? 

 Please be reminded that members are always free to give their seats to a friend if they cannot make it to a given screening. Just email us at [email protected] to let us know the name of the friend who will be using your seat(s).

We are a non-profit, tax-exempt organization run by volunteers that only exists to bring you fine international fiction films and engage in stimulating discussion about them.

Hope to see many of you on Saturday, May 21, at the screening of this powerfully moving film!

Alan
Alan Singerman
President, Davidson Film Club
[email protected]
(704) 231-6736