A Separation: An Iranian Masterpiece That Won the Oscar
A Separation, directed by Asghar Farhadi, centers on the strained marriage of Nader and Simin, a middle-class Iranian couple whose relationship fractures over conflicting moral choices rather than a lack of love. Simin wants to leave Iran to secure a better future for their daughter Termeh, fearing social and political limitations. Nader refuses to emigrate because he feels morally bound to care for his elderly father, who suffers from advanced Alzheimer’s disease. When Simin files for divorce, the court rejects her request, and she moves out, leaving Termeh with Nader.
Struggling to manage work and caregiving, Nader hires Razieh, a religious, working-class woman, to look after his father. A misunderstanding and a moment of anger lead to Nader pushing Razieh out of the house; shortly afterward, she suffers a miscarriage. Razieh and her husband Hojjat accuse Nader of causing the miscarriage, pulling both families into a tense legal and ethical conflict.
As the case unfolds, the film reveals layers of truth, lies, class tension, gender roles, and moral ambiguity. Both Nader and Simin are shown as principled yet flawed—Nader is rigidly honest but emotionally stubborn, while Simin is pragmatic and protective but forced into difficult compromises. Their separation becomes not just a marital dispute but a lens through which Iranian society’s ethical complexities are exposed.
The film ends without clear resolution, culminating in Termeh being asked to choose which parent to live with—an unanswered question that reflects the film’s central theme: truth is fragmented, and moral certainty is elusive.
What's Your Reaction?
