A Separation

"A Separation" provides a useful portrait of Iran today. Some inflamed American political rhetoric has portrayed it as a rogue nation eager to start nuclear war. All too many Americans, I fear, picture Iranians as camel-riding harem-keepers. Certainly some of Iran's punishments for adultery that we read about seem medieval. But this film portrays a more nuanced nation, and its decent characters are trying to do the right thing. To untangle right and wrong in this fascinating story is a moral challenge. I'd love to see the film with wise judges from American divorce courts and hear their decisions. Sometimes the law is not adequate to deal with human feelings.

I wasn't expecting this to be that good, very subtle drama. Well worth the watch.

My second movie from Asghar Farhadi. The first was About Elly. The way he handles chaos and rising tensions is just unparalleled. His movies start with such a simple premise but soon the situations force the characters to break their usual amiable demeanour and human emotions prevail in their true form.

The Dark Knight's joker talks remarks about knowing people more than their friends,

> Do you want to know why I use a knife? Guns are too quick. You can't savor all the... little emotions. In... you see, in their last moments, people show you who they really are. So in a way, I know your friends better than you ever did. Would you like to know which of them were cowards?

Asghar Farhadi's characters follow this remark to the T.

There is so much happening in this film. It starts in a divorce judge's cabin where #leila-hatami and #payman-maadi are going through a hearing on their case of separation. Leila wants to separate because Payman is not willing to emigrate out of Iran, whereas Payman pleads that he does not want to let her go willingly, but also he can't immigrate because of his ailing father, who is suffering from Alzheimer's.

Owing to this rift in the marriage, Leila moves out of the house to her parents and Payman is forced to hire a caregiver for his father. Then comes the stroke of luck which I can't reveal without giving spoilers. From this moment onwards the movie spirals into something else entirely.

Payman is marvellous in his portrayal of an egoistical yet loving father, and son. Leila matches his energy at the same level. Their daughter, played by the director's daughter, #sarina-farhadi. She knows quite well that her mother won't leave the country without her, and so tries desperately to keep choosing her father to hold the marriage together. The amount of responsibility and tension on her shoulder shows in her muted acting which earned her awards for best actress for this.

Like About Elly, #asghar-farhadi 's camera continues to follow the characters as if the spectator is part of a family. Like a dream you sometimes have where you have to be a mute spectator and no one really notices us being there. There is so much we want to correct or interfere, but just can't. He is excellent at creating that helplessness in the audience.

If you are comfortable with #world-cinema and would like to explore outside of the mainstream, you must try #asghar-farhadi 's work. Both this and About Elly are definite recommendations from me.

Powerfull and must watch movie! 8.6/10

A fantastic intersection of religion, morality and duty. No matter where you are from we all share common struggles. Amazing.

https://ihatebadmovies.com/movies/a-separation/

A well-shot, well-edited moral drama that subtly challenges us with the nuances and complexities of quotidian life.

The original title of the film is Jodaeiye Nader az Simin.

At the end everyone loses, ego wins..

Even though “A Separation” has a break-up in the title, the drama is about so much more than that. I would even say that the divorce of Nader (Peyman Moaadi) and Simin (Leila Hatami) is more of a side issue. Instead, the film is primarily about class differences in Iranian society, about the issue of moving away, but also about the role of women in a patriarchal society. The fact that these themes made it through the censorship is definitely a strong achievement by director Asghar Farhadi. He has ultimately created a gripping family drama that is well worth seeing throughout and impresses with excellent performances. “A Separation” is therefore clearly worth a recommendation.