A Separation is a film that gives the viewer an incredibly candid look at two families in Iran whose lives have crossed paths due to various circumstances, and will forever be affected because of it. Writer/director Asghar Farhadi delivers a beautifully shot film that is not only emotionally gripping, but also completely captivating from start to finish.
The story begins with husband and wife, Nader (Peyman Moadi) and Simin (Leila Hatami), sitting in front of a judge, with Simin pleading for a divorce so she can take her child and move abroad. While she’d prefer to do this with Nader, he refuses to leave his father who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease behind, so she’s forced to sue him for a divorce. The court, however, won’t comply without the permission of both Nader and their daughter, Termeh (Sarina Farhadi) so Simin is forced to try and resolve her situation another way. She chooses to move back in with her parents, which leaves Nader no choice but to hire a caregiver to watch his father while he’s at work.
Through a connection of Simin’s, Nader hires Razieh (Sareh Bayat), a woman who isn’t aware of the exact type of scenario she’s walking into, but is desperate for the money. Bringing her young child along each day for the extensive commute, Razieh soon finds that the job is too much for her. However, due to troubles her husband is having with the law, she has no choice but to persist. But when things begin to get out of hand, complaints are filed and Nader finds himself in front of a judge once again. Yet, this time there’s more at stake than just his marriage.
Describing even the beginning of the story above doesn’t truly do the film justice, as it’s the way it’s shot and acted that truly brings this film to life. Farhadi shoots the film almost like it’s a documentary, with the camera moving smoothly with the actors, yet always being right alongside them, or in places you’d find yourself if you were a fly on the wall. It feels as though we’re eavesdropping in on these people during an incredibly trying time in their lives, and it’s completely engrossing.
The acting is absolutely phenomenal, with Moadi really carrying the brunt of the work, elevating every scene he’s in and making it so that you just can’t take your eyes off him. Hatami is also great, playing a woman who has so much weighing on her as she tries to figure out the right thing to do, and whether or not there’s a way to bring her family together again. Bayat is absolutely wonderful in her portrayal of an incredibly religious woman who’s just trying to do right by her family. Her husband, Hojjat (Shahab Hosseini) is the firecracker of the group, with his hot-temper burning the screen up when he lets loose. Finally, there’s Somayeh (Kimia Hosseini) and Termeh, who are the two children in the film. Hosseini is incredibly cute, and does great in her scenes alongside Bayat. Termeh is actually played by Farhadi’s daughter Sarina, who has some really key emotional scenes that she delivers so well that it’s almost surprising that this is her first onscreen performance.
There are so many silences and simple looks in this film that help tell the story better than any melodramatic dialogue could ever hope to do, so credit to Farhadi for not adding it, and to the actors for delivering these moments with perfection. The realism and heart that each actor put into their performances not only elevate this film to another level, but flat out make it what it is entirely.
There were some absolutely superb films up for Best Foreign Film at this year’s Academy Awards, and A Separation is the one that walked away with the gold. If anything, all this praise will hopefully open up some eyes to just how great foreign language films can be, and that subtitles aren’t something one should be afraid of. Because if you do avoid these films because of the need to read along with the story, then know that you are separating yourself from some truly masterful films, like this one, that shouldn’t be missed.
The DVD transfer of the film looks great after the opening scene, which is a bit unclear, but still not overly distracting. The audio is also incredibly clear, with the dialogue coming through perfectly, helping to accentuate the emotions the characters are feeling.
Commentary with Writer/Director Asghar Farhadi – The commentary has subtitles, for obvious reasons, and it’s quite an interesting listen if you want to hear why Farhadi did some of the things he did and get various other insights about the work at hand. However, he does mention near the start that he likes to let the audience decipher his films, and doesn’t like to delve too deep into the reasoning behind many of his choices, so those looking for all the answers won’t find them here.
An Evening with Asghar Farhadi – This feature comes in at just over 30 minutes in length and is a Q&A with the director and his translator after a screening. A lot of great questions are asked, some of which allow Farhadi to answer certain things that may have been left up in the air a bit. Overall it’s an interesting watch.
Birth of a Director – This featurette is just under 8 minutes in length and is basically an interview with Farhadi, who explains what got him into the film business, and about his work.
Finally, there’s a trailer for the film as well.
A Separation is an incredibly candid look inside the lives of two Iranian families, and the troubles they’re both facing. Farhadi has written a superb script that is flawlessly brought to life by a handful of incredibly talented actors. There’s a reason A Separation won Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards, and it’s the same reason you should seek this film out. Highly recommended.
Sony Pictures Classics presents By Asghar Farhadi A Separation. Written and Directed by: Asghar Farhadi. Starring: Peyman Moadi, Leila Hatami, Sareh Bayat, Shahab Hosseini, Kimia Hosseini, Sarina Farhadi, Ali-Asghar Shahbazi. Running time: 123 minutes. Rating: R. Released: August 21, 2012. Available at Amazon.com.
