A Separation (2011)- Drama, Mystery by Asghar Farhadi
A movie making you think but not cry...
“A Separation” aka “Jodaeiye Nader az Simin” - an Iranian Drama with the touch of simplicity and complication. The name of the film itself says the story of “a separation”.
The story begins from an argument about living abroad between Nader (Peyman Moadi) and Simin (Leila Hatami)- a married couple. Simin prefers to live abroad to provide better opportunities for their only daughter, Termeh (Sarina Farhadi). However, Nader refuses to go because he thinks he must stay in Iran and take care of his father, who suffers from Alzheimers. So that, Simin is determined to get a divorce and leave the country with her daughter.
Here I can see the two sides of caring and love between parents and children. The love of a mother (Simin) for her daughter (Termeh) and also love of a son (Nader) for his old, helpless dependent father. Both are important from different viewpoint. When, in the court, Simin says to Nader "your father does not even know you" Nader answers "but I know him." Here, the responsibility of a child toward his father is very tangible.
During the movie, Simin insists on the idea of going abroad; when Nader refuses, she believes there is no other way for them except to divorce. Because Simin does not live with her husband and her daughter anymore, Nader decides to hire a reliable and responsible nurse for his father. Therefore, Razieh (Sareh Bayat) enters their house as the nurse. One day Nader comes and sees that his father has fallen from his bed and does not move. He thinks his father just passed away. However, he is still alive and becomes OK after a few minutes. Nader becomes very angry of what he calls "Razieh's irresponsibility" because she left the house and there is no sign of her. When she comes back, Nader brawls with her and pushes her out of the house and Razieh falls on the stairs that causes the abortion of her baby and a new challenge for Nader and Simin appears.
Finally, Nader and Simin agree to let Termeh choose her destiny by saying whether she prefers to live with her father or her mother. The ending of the story is not clear and it is up to the audience to guess whether Termeh wants to live with her father or her mother.
When you will watch this film, you can easily feel that the story is very familiar to you. As if you know what will happen next. Still strong direction, superb storyline, natural acting skill will force you to sit without blinking the eyes. Leila Hatami & Sareh Bayat performed unconventionally great. Sarina Farhadi (Daughter of Asghar Farhadi, Director) also did very well her own part. The right and wrong actions of characters are blurred to such an extent we end up sympathizing with them all. That is the beauty of this film. No one is better than the other. Everyone is wrong and justified at the same time. Everyone is human.
The movie is now particularly famous because it is the first Iranian movie to win Best Foreign Language Film
at the 84th Academy Awards (2012). Also it is a first Iranian film to ever win an Oscar.
At the end of all the things I must say one thing, judge this film yourself. You decide how do you want to see this movie, in what angle- you will find your answer easily.
