Movie: A SEPARATION (PG)
Duration: 118 mins?
Genre: Drama
Director: Asghar Farhadi
Lead actor: Peyman Moadi and Leila Hatami
Cast: Saareh Bayat, Shahab Hosseini, Sarina Farhadi, Babak Karimi, Kimia Hosseini Producer: Asghar Farhadi? Screenplay: Asghar Farhadi?Music: Sattar Oraki?
Language: Iranian? Country: Iran, Islamic Republic Of

At The Movies Review - Margaret Pomeranz: 5 stars, David: 5 stars

An Iranian couple are faced with improving the life of their child by moving to another country or staying and looking after a deteriorating parent with Alzheimers.

Simin, LEILA HATAMI, is seeking a divorce from Nader, PAYMAN MOADI, because he won't leave his Alzheimer-afflicted father to live overseas on a visa that is rapidly running out. Denied a divorce, she goes to live with her mother while he returns home to his father and their daughter Termeh, SARINA FARHADI. Into their household comes Razieh, SAREH BAYAT, a woman from a conservative, religious working class background. She arrives each day with her daughter to help look after the old man. An incident happens and Nader finds himself in a legal battle with Razieh and her excitable husband Hodjat, Shahab Hosseini.

This exquisite film begins slowly but soon grabs you by the throat as it explores the fine line between truth, honesty, loyalty and justice. There are moral issues at stake here and all are taken into consideration with the utmost compassion. Farhadi's style of filmmaking, although handheld, seduces you into this world of domesticity and dilemmas. It is truly moving on occasions. The performances are all outstanding but the young woman playing Termeh, Sarina Farhadi who is the director's daughter, is just heart-wrenchingly excellent.

There are no simple answers and Farhadi doesn't offer them. It's certainly a film for grown-ups despite its PG rating.

Asghar Farhadi's film A SEPARATION arrives in this country with a reputation, a good one. This multi-award winning film begins with a couple addressing the camera - Review by Margaret Pomeranz (At The Movies)

Screening at: the RSL Hall, 31 Hayles Avenue, Arcadia.Dinner Service, Refreshments & Bar available from 6.30pm till 8.00pm. Screening: 8pm. Please be early so we may start PROMPTLY at 8.00 pm
Admission: Adults $10.00 Conc. $8.00. Members Free.
Annual membership $50.00. Conc. $40.00.

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