A SEPARATION

FILM: A SEPARATION

DIRECTOR: ASGHAR FARHADI

THE ACTS

ACT ONE:

The very start of the film can be taken as act one when Nadir and Simin sit in a family court before the judge and file for divorce. Both the characters want the best for their daughter but Nadir is stuck in between his ill father and his daughter’s better future. Since Simin wants the safety of her child, she does not want to settle for anything that calls for sacrifice of her daughter’s life.

ACT TWO:

The act two of the film takes place when Nadir finds his father lying unconscious and he accuses Razia (the maid) for negligence. Also, he blames her of stealing money. While the emotionally tired woman begs Nadir, he does not listen to her and instead kicks her out of the house. Next day, Nadir comes to know about Razia’s miscarriage and gets involved in another problem.

ELEMENTS OF CONFLICT

Unlikely hero:
Nadir is an unlikely hero and it can be said that in this unusual film, conflict is the hero himself. Torn between his father and the future of his daughter, Nadir is unable to save his marriage and gets caught in a drama caused by Razia’s miscarriage.

He knows that the conditions of the country are not good for his family’s future and wants to provide a bright future to his daughter but is shown helpless (unlike the usual heroes).

Impossible goal:
Simin wants safety of her daughter and is ready to give blood money for a child’s loss because she believes that Razia’s husband is a short tempered, dangerous man who keeps on threatening them. Nadir does not agree with Simin’s choice. Also, it gets really difficult for Nadir’s marriage to survive as his father is quite ill and Simin wants her family’s safety above all.

On investigation, all the evidences seem to be against Nadir and he appears to be the culprit.

Invincible villain:
The situation is the villain itself in this film as both the families are subjected to scenarios that bring them nothing but turbulence. Razia and his husband are victims of poverty who need money for their living while Nadir and his family faces all the hardships due to Razia’s miscarriage and Nadir’s father (who is not well). In between this trouble is Termeh (daughter) who wishes for nothing but a happy, united family.

ELEMENTS OF CHARACTER

POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE QUALITIES:

Nadir is a hardworking man who takes care of his father and daughter. He wants his daughter to get education and also gets a teacher for his daughter’s activities.

Although Razia begs Nadir to let her stay in his house, Nadir blames her for taking the money and without any evidence, kicks her out of his place.

Backstory:
Simin wants to move abroad for the sake of her daughter’s future while Nadir can not do so and has to take care of his father as well. The marriage is falling apart while their daughter is caught in between the two and does not want the separation. The film begins with the point where the couple are filing a petition for divorce.

Want And Need:
Nadir wants to keep his family together and take care of his ill father and to do so, he could not move to another country.
He has to sacrifice the marriage or the family and he chooses to give up on the former.

Secrets And Failures:
In the end, Nadir is unable to save his marriage. Rather, he decides to do what’s best for him and his father. Also, he lies to the prosecutor when asked about his awareness with Razia’s condition (pregnancy) when he kicked her out of his house.