The opening scene of the movie shows Nader and Simin putting forth their case for separation in front of a Judge. They are educated, middle-class Iranians hoping for a better quality life outside the country, but not at the liberty to achieve it due to familial commitments. The 'divorce' sets things in motion, but the story deals with issues far more critical. It is very much a whodunit beyond that point. It made me want to scream, “Say the truth dammit!”, but if I were in their place, I'd probably do the same thing, and honestly believe I did the right thing. It's like sitting and watching your earphones get entangled, as the movie complicates right in front of your eyes. No one is wrong, and no one is right.
The movie pushes you against a corner and dares you to make up your mind about the happenings and defend it if you could. You see reason behind decisions made by every single character. One more thing I noticed was how the movie puts kids in really hard places and asks them to make pretty tough choices. The unpredictability of the movie is overwhelming; with every passing scene, new revelations come up making you question everything you believed in till that point. If you pay close attention, you can actually try and put the pieces of the puzzle together, as in trying to find who did what.
The ensemble cast's performance is brilliant. The entire look of the movie is so natural, it feels as if you're watching a family through a hidden camera. The characters are brutally real and it has one of the greatest screenplays. It is heartbreaking and hard hitting at the same time when it talks about truth, religion, morality, pride etc. It is truly Iranian in spirit, yet universal and accessible.
It subtly speaks volumes about stereotyping of people with less means by the ones who are well to do. Every few minutes, it makes you look at your own self and see who you really are. Taking into account the socio-political scenario in Iran, I suppose this must have been a very hard movie to make. It is fascinating to see characters staunchly abide by the Sharia law, the Islamic moral code, and fear the prospect of committing a sin. I may not be religious but I sincerely respect unshakable faith.
I had the good fortune of watching this on the big screen with an audience who, I suspect, were really looking forward to watching it. There's this scene where a character punishes himself. It was such a powerful moment and the entire theater erupted with applause. The conclusion is disquieting, but most suitable, nonetheless. It makes me want to be a better person. Please watch it and ask others to do the same.
The movie pushes you against a corner and dares you to make up your mind about the happenings and defend it if you could. You see reason behind decisions made by every single character. One more thing I noticed was how the movie puts kids in really hard places and asks them to make pretty tough choices. The unpredictability of the movie is overwhelming; with every passing scene, new revelations come up making you question everything you believed in till that point. If you pay close attention, you can actually try and put the pieces of the puzzle together, as in trying to find who did what.