A Separation

I have finally gotten around to seeing the film which won Best Foreign Language Film at this years Academy Awards.

Iran has been in the news a lot lately for their plans to make nuclear weapons. They are usually portrayed as a terrorist country like their neighbours in the Middle East. It is refreshing then to see a film like this that portrays the people as average citizens. Except for a few religious issues this story could have taken place in any country. It is an excellent story that brings out much emotion and feelings in its characters. Asghar Farhadi has crafted an brilliant script which sets up some wonderful elements that fall into place as the story unfolds. While religion plays a part in the story it is not the over riding element. As I said, this is something that could occur to anyone and happen anywhere. It is a very universal story. We see these people go about their lives much like us here. This is a refreshing change for people of the Middle East as always being portrayed as terrorists. Asghar has brought to life characters that feel like real people. They have their flaws but this makes them all the more human.

The performances in the film more than match the brilliance of the story. Peyman Moadi is brilliant as the man at the centre of the story. You really feel sorry for his character and what he goes through. He does come across as a tough man at time but you come to understand his motives. Leila Hatami is very good as his wife. Her part is not all that great but she is still very effective. Sareh Bayat gives a wonderful performance as the woman at the centre of the conflict. You really feel for her character and what she is going through. Especially when her husband is played by Shahab Hosseini. His character is a very angry man and Shahab is more than capable of bringing out this emotion. But he is also able to make his character seem tender and caring as he is only getting that way because of his love for his wife.

I encourage you all to go see this brilliant piece of film making. A brilliantly told story that despite being in a foreign language is very universal.