A Separation

123 minutes

Iran

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 Nader 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.

88% on the CINEMETER

84% - Dec 18, 2011

A fascinating portrayal of the conflict between the secular and the religious in a modern Muslim country. Acting was superb.
Washington, DC Member

An Iranian Sophie's Choice for Termeh. An Iranian Kramer vs Kramer, but more realistic. Very sad, but interesting portrait of Iranian society, suffering under stress of conflicts between traditional obligations and demands of modern world.
Washington, DC Member

Insightful view of Iranian society; some aspects of judicious systems are very interesting-- and suggest certain aspects complicated by religion but simplified by relative absence of lawyers.
Washington, DC Member

STL

84% - Jan 8, 2012

A great film that should become a classic. It explores universal themes of morality, legality, family and religion in the context of an utterly real and human story. Great acting and filmmaking.
St. Louis Member

Outstanding journey into human relationships told with much understanding, sensitivity and symphony. A winner. When it opened I thought it was going to be like Kramer vs. Kramer, but it became so much more.
St. Louis Member

The most moving film I've ever seen.
St. Louis Member

89% - Dec 4, 2011

A surprisingly nuanced and complex tale of familial and class conflicts. While the Iranian setting was educational, the appeal of the film is its more universal conceits around justice, marriage, adolescence and class.
San Francisco Member

Relentless, raw, excellent. A gripping, compelling, suspenseful and riveting film. Great ending. Simply terrific.
San Francisco Member

Wonderfully nuanced view of family life - eveyone is right and wrong at the same time. You feel for all the characters - nobody is a villain.
San Francisco Member

86% - Dec 18, 2011

I loved the movie. It humanizes the Iranian people with the universality of all societies' problems. I felt the repression of women throughout!
Greater New Haven Member

A riveting, intensely honest and well-balanced slice of life! Well done!
Greater New Haven Member

The heartache of humans trying to do the right thing and hurting and separating themselves from one another. So many separations -- self and country, families, spouses, self and faith, truth and lies.
Greater New Haven Member

MIL

94% - Jan 8, 2012

The story and central question were engaging but I admit that what intrigued me the most wsa the glimpse we got of the Iranian justice system.
Milwaukee Member

Engaging, wrenching, frightening and intense.
Milwaukee Member

Shows you that family dynamics are the same in every country. I learned a lot about about the situation of women that I I thought was totally different.
Milwaukee Member

BOS

87% - Dec 18, 2011

Good film with good exploration of class and morality. I am struck by the meaning of truth and lying-- what is absolute, what is actual, is there room for nuance in determining what is true? My only problem with the story is that the separation seemed merely a device by which to get the maid into the story and it seemed unnecessary to effect that.
Boston Member

Wow. Deja vu. Really sounded like a divorced couple failing to speak to each other -- and boy, could I relate to the caring for an elderly parent. Heart-wrenching. Also, interesting female perspective.
Boston Member

Interesting, well cone film. The use of shallow depth of field and out of focus objects in front of the hand held, jittery camera, close-ups and medium frame shots (without many long shots) all conveyed a sense of obstruction and chaos surrounding the characters. Also the use of glass windows was very powerful. So much was seen through windows or reflected in windows-- leads to a question of what is real + the hidden walls between us.
Boston Member

BOCA

86% - Jan 22, 2012

Amazing portrayal of Iranian life.
Boca Raton Member

A Separation is not only about the marriage but the separation of the classes, male/female, religious beliefs and truth/deception to oneself.
Boca Raton Member

I guess divorce is the same everywhere in the world -- the children suffer more than the parents.
Boca Raton Member

ATL

93% - Jan 8, 2012

A powerful drama on many emotional and cultural levels.
Atlanta Member

Gut-wrenching tale of family life.
Atlanta Member

Excellent, absorbing, subtle. little details add up to so much.
Atlanta Member

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