A Separation

This week's film was A Separation, an Iranian film which won the 2012 Oscar for Best Foreign Language film as well as a bucketload of other awards. This film received very high ratings from those of you who filled in the feedback forms. The most frequent rating was A- excellent (20 out of 39 forms returned!) The lowest rating was C – good. Average rating worked out at 88%.

I thought the film was a brutally honest portrayal of marriage and family life which would resonate in any culture. Like many of you, I also found the insights into Iranian society fascinating, and the bits that I'll remember will be the little details like when the maid rang up her priest to ask if it would be a sin to help an old man change his underpants. As for the Iranian justice system, although it seems very strange to our eyes, I couldn't help wondering what Iranians might think of ours as depicted in Bleak House, To Kill a Mockingbird, Rumpole etc.

Apparently, the film has been the subject of huge controversy in Iran. Initially praised by the authorities - maybe because it won the Oscar in competition against an Israeli film - it came to be criticised for depicting aspects of Iranian life that pander to western pre-conceptions.  Here are some interesting press reports:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/feb/27/oscar-success-a-separation-iran
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/mar/13/iran-cancels-ceremony-a-separation
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/feb/05/separation-iran-film-critics-backlash
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2011/jul/05/a-separation-iranian-politics

Here are the comments of our own reviewers – yourselves:

A
A	A very sad film
A	Put our films to shame, really.
A
A
A	SAD, ANGRY COMPLEX. - CONFRONTATION, BLACK & WHITE OPINIONS WHERE NOBODY IS RIGHT OR WRONG.
A	Really absorbing
A	Stunning!
A	It's the same the whole world over! Great film!
A	Fascinating on many levels.
A	But depressing
A	Really absorbing – an insight into a different way of life
A	Interesting insight into Iranian middle class society – great acting
A	In the beginning – if only he had asked his wife to stay because they needed each other...
A
A	Brilliant film. Very truthful
A
A	A very moving description of a real life dilemma. Excellent acting in all parts.
A	Rare insight.
A	Very good
B	VERY MOVING
B	Interesting exposé of Iranian life, but probably not worth an Oscar.
B	Very interesting insight into a different way of life.
B	Complex and sad story of family relationships, loyalty, religious beliefs & above all the effect on the children. Very well acted. Unbelievably chaotic legal system.
B	A well-written and cohesive film that kept the tension up.
B	More foreign films!
B	Slightly too long but very interesting – religion and gender politics explored.
B	Intriguing tale
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
C	Very high quality acting. Unsatisfactory ending.
C	Interesting – but a conclusion would have been good! Very well acted.
C	What a carry on!!!
D	Good to show a different society.

I could find only one UK national daily/Sunday paper with a review on-line – The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw gave it 4 stars in his very thought-provoking piece: http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/jun/30/a-separation-review
IMDB users gave it 8.6 out of 10: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1832382/
Rotten Tomatoes 94%: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_separation_2011/