Review of A Separation (2011) by Rakesh S — 07 Jul 2012
Asghar Farhadi received raves from literally everywhere for this courtroom drama, and he deserved every single one of them. A Separation is a thrilling piece of filmmaking, one that shows what film can really do.
Above all else, A Separation is an examination of how our choices touch others and how easily a simple decision can ruin somebody else's life, but the film briefly muses on the political environment of modern Iran, religious tension, corrupted court systems, and divorce.
Not only is this the best original screenplay in years, it is one of the tightest ensembles of the year. Leila Hatami and Peyman Moaadi play Simin and Nader, respectively, a couple who plan on divorcing on the grounds that Simin wants a better life for their daughter, so she plans to flee the country, but Nader refuses to go, wishing instead to stay with his Alzheimer's-afflicted father.
Shahab Hosseini is brilliant in a brutally angry performance, but as his wife, Razieh, Sareh Bayat is utterly astounding. The hyperbolic praise is all true. A Separation might just be the very best film of the year--a tough title to earn when you consider the likes of The Tree of Life, Drive, and Hugo.
This review of A Separation (2011) was written by Rakesh S on 07 Jul 2012.
A Separation has generally received very positive reviews.
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