A Separation: The Life Changing Decision

Movie: A Separation

Director: Asghar Farhadi

Cast: Peyman Moadi, Leila Hatami and Sareh Bayat

Rating: ****

You shouldn’t watch ‘A Separation’ because it garnered several awards including an Oscar for best foreign picture. There are plenty of reasons to watch this brilliant piece of cinema from Iran; an industry from which we don’t even see a handful of films every year. Asghar’s fixation with the concept of judgment makes this film a compelling watch for audience from all walks of life.

A couple; Nader and Simin are on the verge of calling off their marriage. Simin has always dreamt of living abroad where she believes, their only daughter, Termeh could grab better opportunities. However, Nader is against the idea of shifting abroad because he wants to stay back in Iran to take care of his ailing father. What happens between Nader and Simin; and how does Termeh react to their decision forms the rest of the story?

In this life-like courtroom depiction of an Iranian family, Asghar gives you an opportunity to step into the shoes of a judge. The impeccable acting and screenplay along with an intricate plot, which may have been inspired or based on real-life events, compel you to see everything from a courtroom perspective. Special focus is laid on the Iranian culture and lifestyle – the importance of family, marital commitment and the treatment towards parents. The film will also connect culturally irrespective of whichever part of the world it’s seen.

To understand the film better, I request you to silently follow the footsteps of the daughter, Termeh. Walk with her, step-by-step, and she’ll show you exactly what you ought to see. There’s some element of astonishment carried throughout until the end of the film. This is something Asghar has administered in almost all his films such as About Eli, Fireworks etc. The entire film is based on a single decision – to take the decision or not forms the crux of the film. And the set of events trigger of tension that mounts and culminates into one major decision for Termeh. Needless to say, there will come a point in the film when you’d wish you have the right to decide on the family’s behalf.

The acting is top notch and you get to see some brilliant performances in the film. In particularly, the roles essayed by Nader and Simin are so complex, yet you see them playing their parts with precision. Nader played by Peyman, was also part of Asghar’s last film ‘About Eli’, and when you compare his performances, you’d find this particular role has shades of grey; a side with insecurities, which stops him from being amenable to his wife’s request.  Leila as Simin and Sareh as Termeh pull off their part in unconventional style, especially Sareh, who according to me was the pick of the characters.

Asghar gives an ending none of us expected but the way he handled it was nothing short of excellence. Complexity is a word that could be attributed to this film, but one can keep up by fully concentrating on each twist and turn of this micro-thriller. One thing you begin to realize towards the end is the role of daughter and what exactly does she go through to keep her family united.

In essence; ‘A Separation’ is one of the best court room dramas that doesn’t unfold in a court.