Away From Her Review

Being a terribly nostalgic person and one who feels memory is everything. Being a writer and one who loves the preservation of all things in life- I could not even imagine what this is like.  

The one who loses all memory and reason, and idenitity must experience a tortorous hell of confusion, fear, confliction, pain while the one who has to witness their partner or lover go through this affliction, suffers incredibly too.   It is a very real disease and my heart goes out to those who have people in their lives suffering from alzheimer's.

"Away from Her" was a real eye-opener and I feel like everyone should see this film. It was so profoundly moving - compelling- touching- and yes even beautiful amongst the sadness. 

The most inspiring part of the film is the way the husband sacrifices himself for his wife. That was the ultimate gesture of unselfish, unconditional love.  By the end, i wanted to cry.   This film ---   is so poignant.

Away from Her

shows what its like to lose--

everything.

Drowning in loss

Disintegration

Disconnection

What it's like to lose your foundation, history, identity.

The way it shatters everyone in its path.

Gripping and heartbreaking.

Devastating and real.
 

It will move you to the core.

The movie incorporated literature into it and was based on a piece written by Alice Munro called "The Bear Came Over the Mountain" originally featured in the New Yorker.

Story found here:

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1999/12/27/1999_12_27_110_TNY_LIBRY_000019900

The film replicates the actual short story and moves like a beautiful piece of art. Polished. You will not be able to walk away from this film without being utterly moved, transformed. It was that deep.  

The husband often reads to his wife in the film, in order to give her comfort and take her to another place away from her illness. Often it revolves around literature or books on Iceland. I found that curious as Iceland seems isolated, far away - could be bleak and desolate because of the frigid climate and being surrounded by so much land and so far away from civilization. This seemed to be symbolic of what this illness was doing to her.   


This film was an affirmation and a reminder. Be grateful for what you have, your memory, your mind, love. Each other.  Don't take anything for granted.


Be grateful.

We never know how long we have.

Hold onto what you have before its gone.

Live in the now.

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go go go go now
out of the nest it's time
go go go now
circus girl without a safety net
here here here now don't cry
you raised your hand
for the assignment
tuck those ribbons under your helmet
be a good soldier
first my left foot
then my right behind the OTHER
pantyhose running in the cold

mother the car is here
somebody leave the light on
green limousine for the redhead
DANCING dancing girl
and when i dance for him
somebody leave the light on
just in just in case i like the dancing
i can remember where i come from

i walked into your dream
and now i've forgotten
how to dream my own dream
you are the CLEVER one aren't you
brides in veils for you
we told you all of our secrets
all but one
so don't you even try
the phone has been disconnected
dripping with blood and with time
and with your advice
poison me against the MOON

mother the car is here
somebody leave the light on
black chariot for the redhead
DANCING dancing girl
he's gonna change my name
maybe you'll leave the light on
just in just in case i like the dancing
i can remember where i come from

i escape into your escape
into our very favorite fearscape
it's across the sky and i cross my heart
and i cross my legs oh my god
first my left foot
then my right behind the other
breadcrumbs lost under the snow

oo who mother
oo mother the car is here
maybe maybe you'll leave the light on
for the for the for the dancing girl
he's gonna change my name
maybe you'll leave the light
just in case i like the dancing
i can remember where i come come from

mother mother mother

 -tori amos

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[written: january 29. 2008]