A Separation (2011)

The first film I've ever scene from Iran, A Separation is a domestic drama that won the Oscar for best foreign language picture in 2012. Like the similar Oscar winning movie Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears from 1980, A Separation gives western viewers a peak into everyday life behind of the vale of a secretive regime. As with the earlier picture this movie is not hyper focused on politics, which is the lens through which western, especially American audiences tend to view the antagonistic power. Rather A Separation tells a more or less universal story through a very particular cultural context.

Simin and Nader have separated, a successful couple, she a teacher and he a banker, their relationship seems generally strong however they are at an impasse about leaving their country for a time with their 10 year old daughter Termeh. Simin feels this is an experince not to be missed (it is never spelled out but it seems she has an opportunity to teach abroad for a semester or two) but Nader is unwilling to leave his father, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease, in the care of others even though the old man no longer knows who he is, nor will he let Termeh go without him. Simin's leaving the home necessities that Nader hire full time help to assist in taking care of his father, he hires a young deeply religious woman named Razieh, and something happens with her that could make the couples reparable rift into something unsalvageable.

A powerful yet simple story excellently staged and very well acted A Separation is an impressive piece of work. If I were to summarize briefly what the film is about dramatically I'd have to say "the stubbornness of male pride", which as the chief subtext of a film made in Iran is almost shockingly forth right, because "the stubbornness of male pride" seems to be the countries chief problem. I'm amazed this movie was even allowed to be made, let alone released internationally to represent that nation.

There are two moments early in the film that to me really drive home the simultaneous normalness and un-normalness of life in Iran, at least as compared to the western nations. First there is the moment where Nader is teaching his daughter a lesson about the value of money by having her pump gas into the family car and then making her go back to the teller to get change when she overpays, after which he allows her to keep the change much to her delight. It's a sweet universal moment. A short time later on Razieh's first day taking care of Naders father the old man pee's himself, so Razieh is forced to call a religious hotline to get permission just  to change the elder gentlemen's pants, so he's not in filth all day, otherwise the act would be a sin which could be punished for. This is something I would have probably never known about had I not seen this movie.

A story of resonance in its own right, wedded to the cultural strangeness of a world mostly isolated from the western experience A Seperation is something of landmark film and one I would heartily recommend. ****