A Separation is a stunning new Iranian film by writer/ director Asghar Farhadi. It focuses on a middle-class couple who separate and the drama which follows when the husband Nader hires a lower-class housekeeper. The film paints a rich portrait of Iran’s deeply-seeped religious influence, the gender segregation and a legal system so different to the West (the housekeeper begs the judge a number of times by saying “You are like an older brother to him” as if to say, show mercy). There is also the impact of the class divide in society; the housekeeper’s husband Nodjat refers to his family as being exploited because they are poor, “us people are not that different to you” he reminds Nader. Nader and his wife are not living lives of luxury by any means, they work hard to support the family and get ahead. They seem focussed more than anything on their daughter Termeh’s (played by the director’s daughter) education and future.
The intricacies of day-to-day life are gracefully depicted: I keep returning to a scene which seems so throwaway, of a TV repair man interrupting a conversation by saying there is a problem with the aerial. This is so inconsequential to the overall story but is so effective at making you feel like you’re immersed in this world. All the dialogue sounds conversational and the settings are intimate- whether it’s within a household or the couple speaking to a judge (the first scene shot with the couple staring straight to camera is captivating) or in a car between father & daughter. You could be fooled into thinking this was an exercise in improv until you realise just how tightly structured this narrative is, and how much weight each and every word carries.
Morally, the story is all very complex. There are as many points of view showcased as there are characters. Everyone is fallible yet everyone feels justified in their own grievances and the director never dares tell us what to think. If it reserves a little more sympathy for anyone, it’s for the children to who the gaze keeps returning. The actors are all outstanding but in the end, Termeh is the central figure. She sees everything in this narrative and the actress provides an unforgettable performance. The young daughter of the housekeeper Somayeh (played by Kimia Hosseini) is also a gorgeous and heart-wrenching presence.
A Separation won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film (it was also nominated for the Best Original Screenplay – rare for a foreign film) last week and Farhadi dedicated the film to the people of Iran. It arrives at a time when other Iranian filmmakers are being forbidden to work. Many have moved away from the country, but Farhadi (like the husband in the movie) refuses to leave his home. This is a special film, I can’t recommend it enough.
‘A Separation’ is in selected cinemas now.
We have 5 double passes to giveaway for ‘A Separation’, just tell us in the comments below what item you can’t be separated from…
