--- title: "Away from Her: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/away-from-her/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/away-from-her" critics_score: 78 critics_reviews: 15 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Away from Her (2007): what the critics said Critics' score 78 from 15 reviews: 13 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics come away admiring Away from Her, and the praise gathers in two places. Julie Christie’s performance as Fiona is singled out again and again, for its restraint, its intelligence and for making a woman with Alzheimer’s more than someone to be pitied. Sarah Polley’s writing and direction draw almost as much credit, with the reviews noting how she handles the illness, and the resentments inside a long marriage, without reaching for histrionics. Gordon Pinsent’s quieter work as the husband is also mentioned warmly. The reservations are scattered rather than shared. Total Film finds the pacing glacial and the film too long, Empire thinks the story loses focus and the dialogue occasionally turns stagy, and The AV Club feels the out-of-order storytelling disturbs the film’s elegiac flow. Variety is alone in arguing that it is Pinsent, not Christie, who carries the film. The spread is narrow: thirteen reviews are positive, two mixed, none negative. ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 24 September 2020. O'Sullivan gives the film an enthusiastic appraisal, calling it a successful adaptation of Alice Munro's story. She particularly praises Sarah Polley's writing and direction, along with Julie Christie's performance. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/away-from-here-forgotten-favourites-a4549811.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 3.5/4. 17 May 2007. Ebert’s verdict is positive, finding the film quietly moving. He singles out Julie Christie’s performance for praise. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/away-from-her) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager Rating 3.5/4. 2 March 2007. Schager finds the film a mature, sensitive, and ultimately hopeful study of Alzheimer’s and its effects on a marriage. He particularly praises Julie Christie’s performance and Polley’s nuanced handling of complicated emotions. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/away-from-her/) ## IndieWire — Michael Koresky Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 2 May 2007. Koresky gives the film a warmly admiring verdict, praising Sarah Polley’s empathy and grace. He singles out Julie Christie’s shrewd, articulate performance as the film’s radiating nucleus. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-in-loving-memory-sarah-polleys-away-from-her-74676/) ## The Guardian — Rob Mackie Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 14 September 2007. Mackie calls the film quietly powerful and praises its dignity, subtlety, and honesty. He singles out Julie Christie’s performance and Polley’s nuanced treatment of memory and marital resentment. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/sep/14/dvdreviews.drama) ## The AV Club — Tasha Robinson Rating B+. 3 May 2007. Robinson finds the film a subdued, moving character study, though its achronological storytelling slightly disrupts its elegiac flow. She praises the subtle performances and its willingness to observe emotions without resorting to histrionics. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/away-from-her-1798202612) ## The New York Times — A.O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 29 April 2007. Scott gives the film a positive verdict. He singles out Julie Christie’s performance for praise. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/29/movies/29osta.html) ## Time Out — Dave Calhoun Rating 4/5. 24 April 2007. The review frames the film as a sober, straight look at an ageing married couple facing Alzheimer’s. The available page text does not reveal what the critic singles out for praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/away-from-her-1) ## The Hollywood Reporter — The Associated Press Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 17 January 2007. Festival review. The review finds the film deep, sensitive and emotionally affecting, while noting that its subject may limit its box-office appeal. It praises the performances and Sarah Polley’s restrained direction, especially the tender scenes that avoid sentimentality. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/away-her-158985/) ## The New Yorker — David Denby Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 20 May 2007. Denby calls the film a minor triumph, praising its challenging intelligence rather than sentimentalizing Fiona’s illness. He singles out Julie Christie’s incisive, forceful performance for making Fiona more than an object of pity. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2007/05/28/movies-10) ## Empire — Olly Richards Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 30 March 2007. Richards finds the film glum but accomplished, with its measured approach ultimately making the tragedy more affecting. He praises the leads, especially Julie Christie’s restrained and deeply sad performance, while criticizing the story’s loss of focus and occasional stagy dialogue. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/away-review/) ## Variety — Dennis Harvey Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 1 May 2007. Festival review. Harvey finds the drama admirable and intelligently focused, though its understated approach may limit its theatrical reach. He particularly praises Gordon Pinsent’s restrained performance, which carries much of the film. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2007/film/awards/away-from-her-4-1200559746/) ## Screen Daily — de.seguin@gmail.com Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 22 January 2008. The accessible page provides no critical verdict. It contains no readable praise or complaint about the film. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/away-from-her/4036728.article) ## Total Film — Total Film Rating 3/5. 15 February 2008. The review finds the film a tasteful, intelligent character study that successfully stays with the viewer. It praises the performances while criticizing the glacial pacing and overlong running time. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/away-from-her-review/) ## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 3 February 2007. Wilkinson finds the film emotionally powerful despite a couple of reservations. She singles out Julie Christie and Gordon Pinsent for their deeply affecting performances. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/away-from-her-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/away-from-her.md