A Separation

Facing a decisive choice, Simin and Nader argue over whether to move their family abroad for a chance at a better life or stay in Iran to care for a parent with Alzheimer's disease. Simin wants to leave, arguing exile would give their daughter Termeh stability, while Nader believes his aging father deserves his son’s care. The disagreement spills beyond the couple, drawing in neighbors, coworkers, and a caregiver named Razieh who steps into their home as the crisis unfolds. As suspicion grows and memories collide, the couple finds their relationship splintering under pressure, with each decision exposing competing loyalties, responsibilities, and the fragility of trust. No easy answers emerge at this fraught crossroads. Everyday rituals become charged with meaning as small decisions reverberate.

Directed by Asghar Farhadi, A Separation arrived in 2011 as a tightly wound Iranian drama. The film was crafted from an original screenplay rather than adapted from another work, earning praise for its restrained storytelling and precise performances at festivals.

International critics lauded the film, culminating in an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. It also earned nominations and wins at other major ceremonies, signaling broad recognition of Farhadi's approach to intimate moral dilemmas and social realism.

The film sparked extensive discussion about family duty, social order, and the Iranian legal environment, translating local conflicts into universal questions about truth and responsibility. Its restrained performances and naturalistic style influenced a wave of realist dramas, encouraging viewers to weigh competing loyalties without easy judgments, sparking lasting debates.

Critics praised the film for avoiding easy conclusions while offering a precise portrait of flawed decisions and imperfect empathy. Central themes include memory versus accountability, class tension, gender expectations, and the pressure of modern life on intimate ties, all set against a believable, claustrophobic setting and the weight of questions.