Bill C’s Review – 4 out of 5
A Separation is nominated for Best Foreign Language Film and deservedly so. It is set (and made) in Iran and deals with a family splitting up because the wife wants to leave Iran for a better life while the husband refuses so he can continue to care for his father who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
Tough choices, both moral and otherwise, are faced as the couple separates and needs to deal with their new circumstances. Part of what makes this such a good movie is you are able to sympathize with all the characters. Forces beyond their control take them in conflicting directions and some of their decisions have disastrous effects..
Excellent performances all around, including the couple, the daughter and the woman who comes to help care for the father after the couple separates.
This movie is also interesting because of the insight we get about daily life, the judicial system and religion in Iran.
This film is highly recommended.
A good article about the movie: http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/20/opinion/anderson-iranian-film/index.html?hpt=hp_t3