Film Reviews

A Separation

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• Details: Iran / 120mins (PG).

An engrossing and involving drama that not only chronicles a Muslim couple's separation, but the devastating effects it has on those around them. If that wasn't enough, Farhadi explores religion, pride, honour, ethics, the class divide, the power of the lie and the Iranian judicial system.
Nader (Nooadi) and Simin (Hatami) have decided to separate because she wants to live abroad so their daughter, Termeh (Sarina Farhadi) will have better opportunities; Nader feels he must stay in Iran to look after their his live-in father (Ali-Asghar Shabazi), who suffers from Alzheimer's Disease. Nader hires pregnant Razieh (Bayat) to clean his apartment while he's at work, a job she keeps secret from her hot-tempered husband (Hosseini). However, when he comes home to find his father tied to the bed and money missing, Nader forces Razieh out the door, and what follows is the fallout from this…
There are three sides to every story: yours, mine and the truth. Did Razieh steal money from Nader? Did Nader know Razieh was pregnant when he shoved her? Writer-director Farhadi doesn't take sides in A Separation, painting everyone as a liar but with a good point and he refuses to judge any of them: Everyone has a reason to do what they do. The Iranian judicial system stops A Separation from being just another dull courtroom drama. Through Farhadi's observational camera, there seems to be an informality to the system - plaintiffs assemble in a room and argue their case to a judge who rules, seemingly, on whose story sounds more likely. Religion too plays a strong role: when Razieh, who fears her husband's wrath because she works for a man he doesn't know, is left to clean up Nader's father who has soiled himself, she rings a hotline to ensure what she's about to do isn't a sin.
Strong themes all but the themes are not what keep us watching - it's the intense performances. Everyone on show earns their corn: from the quiet, reserved Nooadi to the explosive Hosseini, to the mousy Bayat, these are some of the strongest turns seen all year and will take something special to beat them.
Slightly overlong, and going over the same argument again and again can be a little repetitive but A Separation is a fascinating watch - an fascinating story skilfully told.

Review by Gavin Burke