I’m still too young to know how painful a divorce can be. I’ve also never lived in Iran, nor have I been so devoutly religious that I let a fear of sin dictate my actions.
But the emotions in “A Separation” are universal. Asghar Farhadi’s film gets at the harsh reality of everyday life. It’s enthralling, urgent, complex, saddening and one of the best films of the year.
“A Separation’s” first hard truth is that a broken marriage never just affects two parties. Nader (Peyman Moadi) and Simin (Leila Hatami) are a middle-class couple living in Iran with their 11-year-old daughter Termeh (Sarina Farhadi). They’re comfortable and care for each other, but Simin knows they can be better off and wants to move. Nader won’t budge because his father (Ali-Asghar Shahbazi) is suffering through Alzheimer’s. Because the two must each go their separate ways, Simin files for divorce in a gripping opening sequence done in one shot.
Both are right, both are caring individuals for their family, and both are stuck at an impasse. With Simin gone, Nader hires Razieh (Sareh Bayat) to work as a nurse. Razieh has her young daughter Somayeh (Kimia Hosseini) and has another on the way, so she desperately needs what little money Nader can now offer as a single parent. Continue reading “A Separation”