It's been nearly a year since Sarah Polley's modest melodrama Away From Her was first released in the UK. Since then, however, the awards season buzz surrounding Julie Christie's performance as an Alzheimer's patient has apparently justified a second outing for the film. Which is ironic, because Christie's turn is one of the least interesting things about Away From Her, unless you're a fan of vacant stares, pretty close-ups and lazy nominations (see Judi Dench, equally befuddled and Oscar-nominated in Iris).

Instead the movie, as the title suggests, is actually a portrait of a man, in this case a retired academic called Grant Anderson (Gordon Pinsent), and how he grieves for the living death of his wife of 44 years, Fiona (Christie).

The real kick here comes less than halfway through the film when it is revealed that the seemingly loyal and preternaturally loving Grant was a philanderer, a bad husband, manipulative and self-obsessed. It throws an eerie shadow over their entire relationship and asks serious question of Grant - is his love just guilt in disguise? Is it desperation in the face of his own encroaching senescence? Or is all love, perhaps, just a self-made illusion?

The Canadian veteran Pinsent, with soft snowy beard, kindly eyes and rattling baritone, handles this angst with dignity, showing just the right amount of confusion and wounded pride. It's a winning performance, and is ultimately the rock that makes Christie's broad ditherings credible.

12A, 110mins

Editor's choice

• U2 at Nou Camp Stadium, Barcelona
• The 50 Best Movie Villains
• The 15 golden rules of theatre etiquette