A Separation is a review film in which each major character strives to live a decent life


Image credit by Roger Ebert


"A Separation" is a review film in which each major character strives to live a decent life while adhering to the same religious beliefs. The fact that this throws them into discord and puts them before a court is due to the fact that no set of laws will account for human emotions. The film engages the viewer in an unusually blunt manner and, though we can see the reasoning in everyone's situation, our feelings often disagree. 

The film is set in modern-day Iran, a modern country attempting to survive under Islamic rule. The plot in the film has no beef with Islam, but it does show how rigid enforcement of the letter of the law can stifle the spirit of the law. This is valid of all nations and under all laws, regardless of religion. Laws are an attempt to control potentially dangerous conditions when they occur. It's possible that if rules were replaced with values, they'd be a better match for human existence.

Consider the following scenario. Nader and Simin (Peyman Moadi and Leila Hatami) are a happily married middle-class couple in Tehran with a cute 11-year-old daughter, Termeh (Sarina Farhadi), as well as Nader's senile father. They have reached an agreement in principle to relocate to another nation, where they believe Termeh's prospects would be stronger. Simin is all set to depart right now. Nader wishes to remain for the sake of his father.

"But he hasn't seen you!" his wife exclaims. "No, but I'm familiar with him." Both of them are right. We are confronted with the universal problem of Alzheimer's disease. Simin, at a stalemate, moves to her mother's apartment and, out of desperation, files for divorce, despite the fact that she and her husband continue to stay together. For his dad, Nader hires a caregiver. Razieh is her name (Sareh Bayat). She keeps her job a secret from her husband, Hodjat (Shahab Hosseini), who, as a devout Muslim, will never encourage her to work in a man's home without his wife present.


This is what you need to hear about the storyline. The case is brought to the attention of an official interrogating judge (Babak Karimi), whose job it is to hear and examine testimony. He is a rational and open-minded citizen, and all of the witnesses give their best testimony. However, neither of them has all of the truth, and the conclusions must be made in conformity with religious law. Simin and Nader are also moderate Muslims. Razieh is so devout that she doubts whether she should change a man's underwear, despite the fact that he is elderly and ill. The family's dire poverty is what motivates her.

Asghar Farhadi, the writer-director, tells his storey in a reasonable and balanced manner. His only goal seems to be to have empathy. While the judge's actions should go against our sympathies, we appreciate why he does so and believe he is right. It is a testament to a director's strength of character that he would make such a sympathetic film in such a turbulent time.

As is also the case, the actors work their magic to endow a film of conviction. As husband and wife, Moadi and Hatami excel in persuading us that their characters have real motives: they love each other and wish the best for their family, but they disagree about how to behave. It's an unfortunate coincidence that this refers to a manslaughter event. The judge isn't quick to prosecute either.

"A Separation" paints an accurate picture of Iran today. Any incendiary American political propaganda has painted it as a nuclear-weapons-wielding rogue state. I fear that many too many Americans imagine Iranians as camel-riding harem-keepers. Any of the penalties for adultery in Iran that we've heard about seem to be mediaeval. This film, on the other hand, depicts a more complex country, with decent characters trying to do the right thing. It's a philosophical test to figure out what's right and what's wrong in this interesting tale. I'd like to see the film and hear the decisions of wise judges from American divorce courts. Even the rule isn't up to the task of dealing with individual emotions.