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Leila Hatami, Peyman Moadi, Shahab Hosseini, Sareh Bayat, Sarina Farhadi ... see more see more... , Babak Karimi , Ali-Asghar Shahbazi , Shirin Yazdanbakhsh , Kimia Hosseini , Merila Zarei

Set in contemporary Iran, A Separation is a compelling drama about the dissolution of a marriage. Simin wants to leave Iran with her husband Nader and daughter Termeh. Simin sues for divorce when Nade... read more read more...r refuses to leave behind his Alzheimer-suffering father. Her request having failed, Simin returns to her parents' home, but Termeh decides to stay with Nader. When Nader hires a young woman to assist with his father in his wife's absence, he hopes that his life will return to a normal state. However, when he discovers that the new maid has been lying to him, he realizes that there is more on the line than just his marriage. -- (C) Sony Pictures Classics

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93% liked it

13,666 ratings

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141 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 3 min.

Directed by: Asghar Farhadi

Release Date: December 30, 2011

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Flixster Reviews (1,174)

  • hobster1
    May 9, 2012
    hobster1
    A Separation is a flawlessly directed ensemble piece. We're introduced to a family and their acquaintances. Usually a director's hand is apparent, guiding the viewer to a pre-ordained conclusion. In today's world where most stories dictate there must be a hero and a villain, writ... read moreer-director Farhadi is a bit of a rebel. He does not preach, but rather demonstrates life as it really is, where nuance and subtlety reign. His point of view is that he has no point of view. Farhadi simply lays humanity bare in a way that renders race, religion, and nationality irrelevant. Yes cultural differences play a part, as they would in any story regarding a group of people. Yet this not a drama about Iran, or Muslims, or even men and women. It is a drama about what it means to be human. In this way, A Separation is quite simply a masterpiece of modern cinema.
  • imrealgod
    May 4, 2012
    imrealgod
    BEWARE OF THE POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD.........

    Knowing where the movie originates from, I couldn't help my cynicism. Apparently not to blame the country here, it's owing to my ignorance (as you may know, it's deep-rooted by default) of what sort of cinema exists there. The way ... read moreit began, I feared if it'd be any better than a mediocre TV (drama) episode. Slow as it started, it does pick up once it gets going. The execution of the manipulative ways the characters use to solve their situation is exemplary. Especially the psychological game played by one of the protagonists. If only the movie had a sound ending. Not to say that it could have used a 15-20 minutes' trimming, the plot also starts to fall apart towards the end. I don't have any specific problem with the very ending leaving us to go figure the girl's decision, my problem lies in the incidents before it. If only they'd added it up together toward the end as sensibly as they did for the rest of the part, I'd have appreciated it more. Maybe I've interpreted it incorrectly, but even then I'd have to blame the execution for not being so precise as it was before the last half-hour or so. Having said that, this flick is indeed an exceptionally unique experience. More or less. Its grip before it chooses to fall apart is incredible.

    Although I'm not the one to go for movies for they leave you thinking (or call for discussions, et al) I admit that even after ending, the movie manages to linger on for a while thanks to its inconsistent, manipulative characters and its premise. (But as I said, that's not a reason enough for me to draw me toward or even consider watching a movie. Some have that sort of preference. To each, their own.)

    Not a courtroom drama, not a thriller, not a murder mystery, it has a genre of its own. Drama fits the bill, but it's an unusual one for that. Or maybe I'm exaggerating. If you're interested in knowing the truth, it's out there. Can't recommend it enough.
  • jennifxu
    April 20, 2012
    jennifxu
    I had NO idea that this was a court/legal drama! You come into the film thinking it's gonna go into the predictable marriage-split-apart route but omg it doesn't and it is so impressive! But it's an impressiveness that quietly sneaks up on you, subtly involving you into these cha... read moreracters' lives whose magnitude doesn't hit you until the curtain closes. It's a little bit mystery, little bit 12 Angry Men, little bit morality piece, a lot fantastic.
  • fb100000059176003
    April 15, 2012
    fb100000059176003
    Asghar Fahardi's A Separation fully deserves its success and acclaim from the community. The moral contradictions complemented with suspenseful sequencing of events that most contemporary drama fail to portray have been deftly captured with ruthless honesty that will make society... read more wince to the truthfulness of the idea of society and other issues today, regardless of the Iranian backdrop.
  • fb791220692
    March 19, 2012
    fb791220692
    A lot of movies have amazing performances, direction, and writing. The thing that really puts A Separation over the edge is that it has all of those things, but it also comes from out of nowhere, and out of the most unexpected place. It starts with a pretty standard conflict, yet... read more continues to ramp up the stakes, constantly taking the drama farther than anyone would expect. Towards the end it seems to almost get caught up in its own story, and the film suffers for that, but overall this movie feels simply too fresh to ignore.
  • fb701560354
    March 18, 2012
    fb701560354
    A Separation is definitely one of the best foreign language film of the year. The story is a relatable one, the acting is superb, the script is incredible. It is very morally complex, involving and plays like a mystery in a way. It was shot extremely well making use of viewpoi... read morents that keep the audience from seeing certain things which is really great for the mystery. This film is intense and it's insight into dissolving relationships is very keen. A definite must see, A Separation will have you in long discussions after the credits roll.
  • 366weirdmovies
    March 16, 2012
    366weirdmovies
    When an Iranian man's wife leaves him seeking a divorce, he must hire a housekeeper to take care of his senile father; an unexpected tragedy embroils him in the Iranian legal system. Slow to start but eventually develops into a morally complex dramatic mystery exploring issues o... read moref deceit, justice, and the stubborn Iranian code of honor.
  • sanjurosamurai
    March 12, 2012
    sanjurosamurai
    its everything youve heard. the script, the acting, perfect storytelling. the film is a family drama that often plays out as a thriller. one of the interesting aspects of the film is that we're often unsure who we want to believe, and we have to make decisions of whose side we... read more are on because so many of the characters are compelling. i made my choice early and at the end of the film i still stood by the character i sided with even when we found out some of this characters flaws, but they are all flawed because they are all human. such a well written film.
  • 5oclockcoffee
    March 3, 2012
    5oclockcoffee
    I am not surprised with the Oscar nomination and victory. This is an Iranian film in a western format - what can be seen right in the opening credits/scene. The Middle East culture is portrayed in an accessible language, which creates resemblance and, consequently, empathy. The ... read moresame can't be said about Abbas Kiarostami's films, for example. "Under the Olive Trees" - Iran's submission to the Oscars in 1994; not nominated - is not the type of film for anyone.
    Either way, "A Separation" is an excellent movie. My only disappointment was the expected "open ending". Not the end itself, but the fact that Asghar Farhadi did not surprise me with a choice. More than a common "trick", open endings can hide a sort of (in) convenience.
  • mrbungle7821
    March 3, 2012
    mrbungle7821
    When A Separation won the Best Foreign Film Award at the 2012 Oscars, its writer and director, Asghar Farhadi, gave a heartfelt speech where he accepted the award on behalf of a proud people who "respect all cultures," a country that is much more than portrayed on the news as a M... read moreiddle Eastern state of agitation and repression. Then the Iranian state-run TV used the opportunity to insult Israel, saying that the Academy "bowed before Iranian culture," their movie "left behind" the Israeli nominee (Footnote) and "the beginning of the end" of Israel's influence as it "beats the drums of war." Sigh. Just when it looks like progress can be made to build cultural bridges. A Separation is a nuanced tale of struggle between tradition, morality, and personal choice. It's a movie worth taking pride in.

    Nader (Peyman Moadi) and Simin (Leila Hatami) are a married couple heading for a divorce. She wants to move to the West. He does not want to leave, especially since he must care for his elderly father who suffers from Alzheimer's. Simin wants a better life for herself as well as their 11-year-old daughter, Termeh (Sarina Farhadi, the director's own daughter). Simin does not want to leave without her daughter but cannot get the judge to give her custody without Nader's approval. Simin has moved back in with her parents. Nader hires a working-class maid, Razieh (Sareh Bayet), to care for his father while he's away at work. Razieh is working unbeknownst to her husband, who would disapprove but has been unemployed for nine months. Caring for the elderly man is a lot more than she bargained for. At one point, Razieh calls an imam to ask if it is a sin to change the elderly man's soiled pants. Then one day Nader comes home to find hid father sprawled out on the floor, tied to his bed, and locked in the apartment. When Razieh comes back, she says she had an emergency and keeps it vague. Nader fires her, she demands payment for the day, and he pushes her outside his door. The repercussions of this action will be larger than either could have imagined. Razieh and her husband accuse Nader of intentionally pushing the woman, and when she fell she miscarried her baby. Nader is being tried for murder, but nothing is as clear-cut as what it seems.

    There's so much to dissect in the intimate, thrilling, and observant little movie about imperfect people living under an imperfect system. It's far more than the dissolution of a marriage and its impact that has on their family. It's about the separation of moral relativism, compromises, cultural estrangement, and the concepts of justice in a world brokered by unjust forces. A Separation is really an ongoing court case that ensnares all the characters and brings them down in some degree. The more information we learn, the more we start questioning exactly what we knew about these characters and their circumstances. We'll get speeches about doing the right thing in the face of opposition, and yet characters will routinely lie to save their own self-interest in the sacrifice of truth. You're thrown into the middle of this drama and by the end you'll likely feel exhausted by how emotionally charged the whole thing is. Lots of breathless arguing, lots of teary-eyed emotions, lots of unvarnished pain exposed, and very little in the way of resolution. This is an agonizing film that doesn't feel the need to kowtow to the hopes of an audience for a happy ending. The lives of these characters are too complicated for tidy resolutions. The open ending, where Nader and Simin await their daughter's decision over which parent she will live with, feels perfect considering that these people, due to circumstance both personal and political, are resigned to limitations on their happiness.

    This is one of those movies where there are no real villains. You can see everybody's plight and find some reasonable empathy for these people. Initially, the audience sympathy seems to be completely with Nader. He doesn't want a divorce but feels indebted to taking care of his ailing father. He feels like he cannot abandon his father to live in the West. Simin is more vague about her rationale for wanting to leave the country, though one can only assume that her concern for her daughter is directly tied to the subjugated roles of women in Iran. Otherwise, her daughter is apart of a middleclass family where education is prized. Simin callously says that the old man is so far gone into dementia, why does it matter? The tension becomes whether Nader would rather care for his aged father or secure a brighter future for his daughter. After this opening marital clash in front of a judge, the film mostly follows Nader and his care of his father. When he confronts Razieh and is fuming about how he discovered his father, we're there with him. Then when he's accused of murder, a charge we know seems preposterous given what we've witnessed, our empathy further aligns with Nader, who we fill is wrongfully accused of something so serious it will wreck his life and family. Then when Simin reappears, and seemingly believes the worst of the story, it feels like she's using the fraught circumstances to her advantage to force her daughter's hand into deciding to leave Iran. But then the movie continues and you see that Simin has more at stake, Razieh is a sad woman penned in by circumstances, and Termeh is not the innocent child she appears to be. Your loyalties will be pulled in multiple directions until you ultimately conclude that these aren't good people or bad people but merely people, fairly relatable and sympathetic.

    A Separation shows a different side to Iran, a side that most Americans don't see given the news coverage. The Iran on display in the film is a world in conflict. There's the emerging voice of women conflicting with the male sense of privilege, there's the conflict between classes illustrated by the stark difference sin living conditions between Nader and Razieh, who must make lengthy commutes just to earn a pittance, the conflict between parents who say they want what is bets for their child but provide her with false choices and use her as a battering ram against the other side, the conflict between a justice system that must stick to the letter of the law and the cases that cannot be so simply defined, the conflict between allegiance and self-interest, the conflict between personal gain and the truth, the conflict of caring for the old versus establishing a life of opportunity for the young, and the conflict between religious faith and daily living. There's so much going on in this movie that every detail feels telling, ever actor feels rooted is reality, and every new moment further complicates an already messy situation.

    A Separation is the kind of meaty drama that Hollywood seems to have forgotten how to make anymore. It's patient and uncompromising, trusting its audience to wade through nuance and ambiguity rather than be told explicitly how to feel. The complex character work, alarming intimacy, and observational details of a society in relatable turmoil build the foundation of one very enthralling, thrilling, deeply resonant piece of work. A Separation is an example of superior filmmaking and the idea that movies from around the globe, even places that our politicians demagogue as an "axis of evil," can tell universally human stories. This is a movie that will spark discussion long after it's over.

    Nate's Grade: A

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Critic Reviews

Jon Frosch
March 7, 2012
Jon Frosch, The Atlantic

Dynamically shot and paced like a thriller, the film has the density and moral prickliness of a good novel. Full Review

Tom Long
February 23, 2012
Tom Long, Detroit News

These people seem so real they might live next door. And they probably do. Full Review

Lisa Kennedy
February 10, 2012
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

Very few movies capture as convincingly as A Separation does the ways in which seemingly honorable decisions can lead to interpersonal conflict -- even disaster. Full Review

Chris Vognar
February 9, 2012
Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News

To say the piercing Iranian film A Separation is about divorce is a bit like saying The Wizard of Oz is about a pair of slippers. Full Review

Colin Covert
February 2, 2012
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

"A Separation" moves beyond one couple's sundering marriage to reveal growing rifts between generations, ideologies, religious mind-sets, genders and classes in contemporary Iran. Full Review

Bill Goodykoontz
February 2, 2012
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic

"A Separation" is a great movie, a look inside a world so foreign that it might as well be another planet, yet so universal that its observations are painfully familiar to anyone, anywhere. Full Review

John Anderson
January 27, 2012
John Anderson, Newsday

Asghar Farhadi's emotionally epic movie is not just a masterpiece dramatically, it is a movie dramatically of its moment. Full Review

Steven Rea
January 26, 2012
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

It's small. It's real. And it's deeply moving. Full Review

Wesley Morris
January 26, 2012
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe

This is a trenchant emotional thriller that you watch in dread, awe, and amazing aggravation. Full Review

Michael Phillips
January 26, 2012
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

Some films wear their artistry so lightly they appear simply to be happening, the inner workings of the story guided by an unseen hand. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Simin: What did you do to her?
    • Razieh: [pleading] By Imam-i-Hussein [later] by Imam-u-zaman.
    • Nader: What is wrong is wrong... No matter who says or where it's written.
    • Simin: He doesn't even know you're his son.
    • Nader: But I know he's my father...
    • Termeh: You said it's not serious.
    • Nader: It got serious.
    • Interrogator: Your charge is murder.
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  • 'Two co-dependent high school seniors (Hill and Cera) are forced to deal with separation anxiety after their plan to stage a booze-soaked party goes awry.' Plot from....  Answer »
  • Kevin Bacon has a small role in the movie Six Degrees of Separation.  Answer »
  • Will Smith made his acting debut in a film that garnered Stockard Channing her first and only Oscar nom. What was it?  Answer »
  • Which one is not a Linda Hamilton movie?  Answer »
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