A Separation

(In Farsi with English subtitles)

An Iranian family acquires visas to travel abroad after months of struggle. The husband refuses to travel on the grounds he must remain to care for his father who has Alzheimers Disease so the wife goes to court to seek a divorce. The wife wants to travel to provide their daughter with a better life. This dispute leads to separation and as she departs the wife makes arrangements for an acquaintance to become a carer for her father in law. What ensues is a distressing spiral of unfortunate events from which no-one seems able to escape.

'A Separation' deservedly won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The events are portrayed so naturally it seems as though the viewer is eavesdropping on real life. The film has a claustrophobic feel with its many closeups and almost every scene filmed indoors. The few outdoor scenes are almost all filmed inside cars adding to the sense of confinement.

The film challenged my preconceptions about Iran especially the role of women and its legal system.

A fascinating film.