Oscar-Nominated Actress Returns With Acclaimed Depiction Of Alzheimer's Disease, UK

Main Category: Alzheimer's / Dementia
Article Date: 19 Feb 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Actress Julie Christie will return to cinemas with her performance of a woman living with Alzheimer's disease.

Away From Her is being re-released ahead of the Academy Awards in Los Angeles, where Christie is nominated for Best Actress.

Christie stars as Fiona who insists on going into care as her memory starts to deteriorate, rather than staying at home with her husband of 40 years Grant (Gordon Pinsent). She is determined to deal with the disease on her own terms, as her husband struggles to accept the unexpected changes in their lives.

Neil Hunt, chief executive of Alzheimer's Society says,

'Julie Christie's powerful and strikingly honest portrayal of a person with Alzheimer's showed the devastating impact any form of dementia has, not only on the person diagnosed, but on their families.

'On behalf of Alzheimer's Society, I want to thank Julie for highlighting this all too often taboo subject and increasing the awareness of the dilemmas and quality of care needed for everyone affected by dementia - an as yet incurable condition. We congratulate her on this recent Oscar nomination and all the well-deserved awards Ms Christie has received so far for this role. We wish her the best of luck at the Oscars.'

Away From Her explores the relationship between Fiona and her husband, the reality of moving into a care home and the relationships which people with dementia develop. Adapted from the book The Bear Who Came Over The Mountain, director Sarah Polley is also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the Oscars next Sunday (24th February 2008).

Christie has already scooped a Golden Globe, along with awards from The Screen Actor's Guild and The National Society of Film Critics Awards for the role. Alzheimer's Society members should look out for the March issue of Living With Dementia magazine for the chance to win a copy of Away From Her on DVD, signed by Christie.

Away From Her will be showing from today at Odeon Panton Street, The Renoir London, The Coronet Notting Hill, Greenwich Picturehouse, Royal Leamington Spa, Showcase Bristol and Showcase Reading and from February 29 at Screen on Baker Street and The Gate Notting Hill.

For more information visit http://www.awayfromher.co.uk.

Notes:

- 1 in 3 older people will end their lives with a form of dementia

- 700,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia, more than half have Alzheimer's disease. In less than 20 years nearly a million people will be living with dementia. This will soar to 1.7 million people by 2051. 1 in 6 people over 80 have dementia.

- The Alzheimer's Society champions the rights of people living with dementia and those who care for them. The Alzheimer's Society works in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

- As a charity, the Alzheimer's Society depends on the generosity of the public to help it care, research and campaign for people with dementia. You can donate now by calling 0845 306 0898 or visiting http://www.alzheimers.org.uk.

Alzheimer's Society