A Separation

This Iranian film was on the list year as an Academy Award nominee, so I had high expectations going in. Which is strange since I didn't really know anything about the film. I thought that it was about a husband and wife who get a divorce so the wife can travel to the U.S. In fact, the wife wants to travel to the U.S., wants a divorce so that she can travel with her daughter. But like many teens, the daughter will have none of it. She decided that by refusing to go, her mother won't leave either and perhaps the parents will reconcile. This "kid in the middle" situation is particularly evident throughout the film and highlights the parents inability to take responsibility for their own decisions. They can no longer put a decision on the other and absolve themselves of responsibility so the closest next body is that of the daughter. Mix in a grandfather with dementia in the house and an unfortunate accident with the house keeper and you get a courtroom drama film. The interesting part of this film is the interplay of religious v. secular in the courtroom, and in the ensuing out of court drama. None of the dramatic tension here is particularly unique to Iran, but the religious/secular piece is an easy setup because it is well known. The filmmaker does not need to provide significant background for the viewer to understand and participate in the angst. It would be interesting to see this same film made with issues where conservative religion v. secularism informs the drama, but in other contexts. Could we see a replay made in the U.S. Bible belt, or in Tel Aviv, or Mumbai, or Tokyo. That would be a great little trilogy.
3 stars (out of 5)