As far as breakout directorial efforts by young actors go, Sarah Polley‘s moving and beautiful “Away From Her” is about as good they get. Based on a short story by Alice Munro, the film chronicled the effects of Alzheimer’s on the relationship of an elderly couple with the maturity and grace of a director far beyond the (at the time) 27-year-old Polley. Now five years later, and into her early 30s, Polley returns behind the camera this time for a story about characters her own age.
“Take This Waltz” rounds up a great cast and tells the story of a young Toronto married couple, played by Michelle Williams and Seth Rogen, who struggle with monogamy and fidelity, as the former is torn between her husband and a new man. Sarah Silverman and relative newcomer Luke Kirby also feature in the film which shot on location, and judging by these first clips, looks like another winner from Polley. The first clip plays like your standard rom-com, but it’s in the second and third clips where the nuance and deeper notes come to the fore. Silverman looks solid in what seems like a great change of pace for the comedian, while it’s the final clip that is a true winner, reminding us both of Douglas Sirk and Wong Kar-Wai all at once, with it’s beautiful color palette (noticeable in all the clips) and woozy emotional tenor. So yes, this is definitely living up to the high expectations we have for the picture.
The film premieres at TIFF in September. Check out the clips below. [via Awards Daily]
