A SEPARATION

ASGHAR FARHADI | IRAN | 2011 | 123 MIN | PG-13 | PERSIAN W/ ENGLISH SUBTITLES

Before cementing his reputation as one of cinema’s contemporary masters with films like THE SALESMAN (PFF25) and the upcoming EVERYBODY KNOWS (PFF27), Asghar Farhadi broke onto the world film stage and took home an Academy Award for this gut-wrenching drama. In A SEPARATION, Simin (Leila Hatami) moves out of the flat she shares with husband Nader (Peyman Moaadi). Nader takes on impoverished, pregnant housekeeper Razieh (Sareh Bayat), who keeps the job a secret from her hot-tempered, unemployed husband Hodjat (Shahab Hosseini). A tragic incident lands the two couples in court, with the characters trying desperately to prove their innocence even as the truth seems increasingly murky. Though full of secrets, lies, and other hallmarks of melodrama, A SEPARATION never feels less than grounded in reality. And rather than stock heroes and villains, Farhadi populates the film with men and women who are flawed but recognizably human, building to a nuanced portrait of class, gender, and faith in contemporary Iran.

Cast: Leila Hatami, Peyman Moaadi, Shahab Hosseini, Sareh Bayat

“Succeeds in bringing Iranian society into focus for in a way few other films have done.” –The Hollywood Reporter

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