Simin wants to move out of Iran where her daughter Termeh would have many opportunities to carve her future. Nader wants to stay in Iran to look after his diseased and ill father. This difference in opinion causes an escalation finally calling for a separation. Asghar Farhad has carefully put his mind in the screenplay which reflects an ideal family situation where a divorce brings uncanny scenarios plunging the family into a depressed stage. In absence of wife, Nader hires Razieh to take care of his father and do the chores. Razieh is a strict at her religious beliefs to the extent that she has to confirm with the elderly if she is allowed to change the old man's pants.
Nader finds one day that Razieh tied his father to the bed and verged out of the house for her personal work. This is unforgivable to Nader and we cant help but agree with him. He dismisses pregnant Razieh and under the pretext of making her to leave the house, he pushes her. Razieh and her husband Hodjat files a case for manslaughter. The tensed situations and a depressed social life finally make their way towards the courtroom.
Farhadi paints us a beautiful but complicated portrait of human emotions, religious beliefs and modern -day scenarios we can completely relate to. The children are the soul of the film as they are silent observers to the trouble surrounding them. A Separation is one of the bechmarks of the drama genre and something which can keep you engrossed.
8 on 10 stars
