"A Separation" provides a useful portrait of Iran today. Some inflamed American political rhetoric has portrayed it as a rogue nation eager to start nuclear war. All too many Americans, I fear, picture Iranians as camel-riding harem-keepers. Certainly some of Iran's punishments for adultery that we read about seem medieval. But this film portrays a more nuanced nation, and its decent characters are trying to do the right thing. To untangle right and wrong in this fascinating story is a moral challenge. I'd love to see the film with wise judges from American divorce courts and hear their decisions. Sometimes the law is not adequate to deal with human feelings.

I wasn't expecting this to be that good, very subtle drama. Well worth the watch.

Even though “A Separation” has a break-up in the title, the drama is about so much more than that. I would even say that the divorce of Nader (Peyman Moaadi) and Simin (Leila Hatami) is more of a side issue. Instead, the film is primarily about class differences in Iranian society, about the issue of moving away, but also about the role of women in a patriarchal society. The fact that these themes made it through the censorship is definitely a strong achievement by director Asghar Farhadi. He has ultimately created a gripping family drama that is well worth seeing throughout and impresses with excellent performances. “A Separation” is therefore clearly worth a recommendation.

It's a movie that's difficult to decide who is right and who is wrong and that's what we want something that will make us think and not that everything is black or white. Also it's an interesting approach of today's Iranian culture.

The original title of the film is Jodaeiye Nader az Simin.