Review of The Past (2013) by Nesbitt10 — 11 Apr 2014

It's not always fair to judge a film by its director's previous endeavours, but it's almost impossible to watch "The Past" and not think of director Asghar Farhadi's previous masterpiece "A Separation," a study of two families attempting to navigate Iran's repressive domestic laws and the erosion of their relationships. As the title indicates, "The Past" remains idle in a shared history with its characters who bear the weight of guilt and resentment that fuels this slow burn domestic drama. Ultimately, "The Past" explores the emotional damage that can incur when lines of communication inevitably break down.

Marie (Bérénice Bejo) and Ahmad (Ali Mosaffa) are estranged spouses. Ahmad returns from Iran to France, where Marie lives, to finalize their divorce. When he arrives, he learns that Marie is living with Samir (Tahar Rahim), and Samir's young son, as well as with her own two children from a relationship previous to Ahmad. As Ahmad tries to make the best of his sometimes uncomfortable visit, he finds himself in the middle of several tumultuous situations. As the days pass, more about the lives of these people are revealed, and with considerable consequences.

Farhadi's most complex and involving narrative to date provides a natural progression with no real plot twists while providing some unexpected turns. Teetering on the edge of contrived melodrama, the film builds towards a lackluster and formulaic finale that's nowhere nearly as compelling as Farhadi's uncanny ability to powerfully convey human insight and emotional turmoil. That being said, Farhardi's unsentimental and unforgiving approach ensures that this tale of domestic tension is in capable hands.