Introduction of Literature 2 peers responses
Response to two peers, at least 150 words each.
1st peer post
-The film does an excellent job adapting the characters motivations, conflict, and resolution. The ending in particular to the short story and film was the same and I think the film did a great job of depicting the story. Especially when Fiona and Grant are talking and she realizes finally he has visited her continually and she says, "You could've just driven away without a care in the world and forsook me" (Egoyan et al., 2006, 1:44:47).
I do feel the film omitted details from the story involving the back story of why Grant felt like Fiona was just trying to get back at him ( Munro, 2013). The film did not put major details the like story did with Grant's infidelities in their marriage which was key to understanding why he felt that way.
The scenes in the beginning were arranged a differently. In the film, it shows Grant showing up Audrey's wife house (Egoyan et al., 2006, 0:13:21) and in the short story it ha not happened this early yet. In the film and the story, the appointment with the doctor on Fiona's condition to diagnose Alzheimer's happened at the same time, but the first initial visit to Meadow Lake happened at different times. In the story it happened earlier than in the film.
I believe both story and film depict Alzheimer's well. Both show the struggle and hardship it has on the significant other and how people diagnosed with this disease have a hard time staying safe at home and the need is very real for nursing home placement. Nursing home placement in itself takes a toll on the family- the feeling of guilt and missing the person is very hard.
References
Egoyan, A. Hirst, V., Iron, D. Mankoff, D. Urdl, S. Weiss, J. (Producers), & Polley, S. (Director). (2006). Away from her. [Motion
picture]. Canada: Foundry Film.
Munro, A. (2013, Oct 21). The bear came over the mountain. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/10/21/the-
2nd peer post
-Did the film omit any significance from the story?
The film followed the short story pretty closely, and there were a couple of details left out of the film, such as Fiona's family's background. I also noticed Grant's character was portrayed as a devoted husband, while in the short story, he is portrayed as a man unfaithful to his wife on several occasions (Munro, 2013). Additionally, the film didn't follow the story sequence similarly. The film shows Grant immediately working on getting Aubrey back into the nursing facility to be reunited with Fiona (Egoyan et al., 2006). In the short story, Grant struggles with the idea of his wife not remembering who he is and building a new relationship with another man (Egoyan et al., 2006). He later realizes that the disease is causing changes in his wife that she cannot control, and he feels the best thing for his wife is to have Aubrey's company in the nursing facility (Egoyan et al., 2006). In the short story, he goes through this internal struggle, then works on convincing Aubrey's wife to allow him to return to the facility; it isn't an immediate realization for Grant, as the film shows (Egoyan et al., 2006).
References
Egoyan, A. Hirst, V., Iron, D. Mankoff, D. Urdl, S. Weiss, J. (Producers), & Polley, S. (Director). (2006). Away from her. [Motion
picture]. Canada: Foundry Film.
Munro, A. (2013, Oct 21). The bear came over the mountain. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/10/21/the-