I love gerontological movies which I can use in my class room to trigger hot discussions regarding an up-to-date ethical dilemma. Away from Her is one of those great movies which touches upon a very sensitive ethical issue: should Alzheimer's patient be free to have sex? Or more specifically, should Alzheimer's patients living in a nursing home be allowed to develop an intimate relationships with another resident - while still being married and while the spouse opposes such a relationship?
Away from Her tries to deal with these questions. It is a 2007 Canadian movie. Directed by Sarah Polley, it stars Julie Christie and Gordon Pinsent. The story is about an aging married couple. The wife develops Alzheimer's disease and decides to move into a nursing home. Things become complicated as she gradually loses her memory, and begins to develop an intimate relationships with another resident of the nursing home, which also has dementia.
The main plot is accompanied by a secondary plot, where both the husband and the wife of the persons with dementia - meet and develop their own "relationship" while their partners are in the nursing home.
I really like this movie and highly recommend it. Both Christie and Pinsent play wonderfully. The socio-ethical dilemmas is very nicely portrayed, without trying to be too moralistic, and without extra-drama. The very subtle and sensitive manner way in which the movie deals with such a difficult topic - makes it an excellent gerontological movie, which joins a series of good popular movies that touch upon the difficult realities of Alzheimer's and dementia.
Canada
2007
Director: Sarah Plley
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQg6Er-pbQU
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