A lot of stuff happens in A Separation. First an Iranian couple is arguing in front of a judge about getting a divorce because Simin, the pretty wife, wants to leave the country so their 11-year-old daughter Termeh can be raised in a less oppressive environment. Her husband Nader seems like a reasonable enough guy, but he has to think about his father, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. When the two are unable to agree on the divorce, Simin moves out and Nader hires a housekeeper.
Because of her moral issues with some of the unexpected duties of taking care of a man with Alzheimer’s, the housekeeper quits after the first day. Desperate for the money, she reluctantly returns the following day, only to have Nader return home from work early to find that she has neglected his ailing father, whose condition seems to worsen as a result.
OK. So stuff is happening again and I’m wondering when it will all come together. I mean, the movie has received lots of critical praise and won all kinds of awards, including a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film. And it was nominated for Academy Awards in Best Foreign Language Film and Best Original Screenplay. So I eventually have to have some reason to care about what is happening, right?
Well, an argument between Nader and the housekeeper ensues that results in Nader shoving her out the door and closing it. This is where stuff gets really interesting. The housekeeper accuses Nader of causing her miscarriage, Nader claims he didn’t know she was pregnant and Simin tries to find a compromise that will make everyone happy. The housekeeper’s hotheaded husband refuses to cooperate and even goes so far as to punch Simin in the face during a scuffle between him and Nader.
Throughout this ordeal, no one is being completely honest about what happened or what they were aware of. But they all have seemingly good reasons for not telling the full truth. Termeh, who is smarter than the adults give her credit for being, seems to see right through the lies and innocently questions the motivations of the adults telling them.
In the end, compromises are made, but no one seems to get full closure since no one is willing to fully reveal the truth of the matter. And the story comes full circle, this time with Simin and Nader agreeing to the divorce. But the ultimate decision is Termeh’s to make. And since her eyes have been opened to just what her parents (and other adults) are capable of, it’s a tough decision that will be hard for everyone to cope with, especially in the oppressive Iranian culture.
A Separation. Directed by Asghar Farhadi. Starring Leila Hatami, Peyman Moaadi, Shahab Hosseini, Sareh Bayat and Sarina Farhadi. Rated PG-13. www.sonyclassics.com/aseparation/.
Review by Flash Gorem