2012-03-11

伊朗式分居 A Separation




The Audience as Judges

A Separation is a multi-layered, well-acted and engaging drama about the complexity of human morality. Most movies rely heavily on music to evoke emotion, yet A Separation, with only one piece of music in the end credits, is compelling owing to its realism and a spate of moral dilemmas. We, the audience, are forced to serve as judges from beginning to end. (Please note the first scene in which we look at the couple talking to a judge.) Should we leave behind the father with Alzheimer’s disease? Are there any circumstances in
which lies are morally acceptable? Is it appropriate for parents to encourage their children to lie? Should a teacher shy away from telling the truth? Are there any problems when we behave purely in conformity with our religion? Has justice been done in Iran? As for the maid’s miscarriage, whose fault is it? Herself because of her negligence? Her husband who owes people money? Her employer who allows a pregnant woman to work as a maid? 

Upon the outburst of the daughter’s pent-up emotions, a tear rolled down my cheek. She is just a little girl whose parents separate, whose grandfather is sick, whose father is charged with murder, whose schoolmates gossip about her, whose life is threatened. She has tried to unite her family members, whereas she bursts into tears because of her father’s stubbornness, which can be interpreted as Iran’s conservative regime telling
ties to cover its scandals and controlling its people with the use of religion. Her sadness is heartfelt because of the three-dimensional character.

The movie is well cast and well acted. Honorable mention goes to Ali-Asghar Shahbazi, Nader's father in the film. Although he is not a trained actor, he gives a very convincing performance. The two daughters, who act naturally, also elicit great sympathy from the audience.

Anyway, I highly recommend this beautiful Iran movie to all of you. It will be one of my top five movies in 2012.

Spoiler Warning: Please note that the three family members also wear black at the end, which implies the death of the grandfather. However, the gap between Nader and his wife widens, which leads to the final scene.

影評刊載於「動映地帶」及「IMDB」。
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IMDB: 8.6 / 10 (Top 250 #69)
Metacritic: 95 / 100
Rotten Tomatoes: 99% Fresh
Kenji Chan: 4.7 / 5



















陽光姊妹淘 Sunny - 4 / 5
週末 Weekend  ~~~~ 《情留半天》英國同志版 - 4.1 / 5
這不是電影 This is Not a Film - 3.5 / 5
春嬌與志明 - Love In the Buff 3.7 / 5 --- The sequel is better!
色辱 Shame - 4.1 / 5
愛很爛 Love Actually…Sucks - 2 / 5
戀之罪 Guilty of Romance - 3.7 / 5
夏灣拿獵屍王 Juan of the Dead - 3.8 / 5
無光歲月 In Darkness - 3.8 / 5
明信片 Postcard - 4 / 5
燥爸爸狂媽媽 Carnage - 3.6 / 5
末日驚防 Take Shelter - 4.2 / 5
飢餓遊戲 The Hunger Games  - 3.3 / 5 --- VS --- 大逃殺 Royale Battle 4.8 / 5
插班先生 Monsieur Lazhar - 3.8 / 5
陽光抗癌大作戰 Declaration of War - 3.5 / 5
伊朗式分居 A Separation - 4.7 / 5
桃姐 A Simple Life - 4.1 / 5

16 則留言:

  1. 描寫人物矛盾細膩, 演員出色, 真的是好電影. 不過, 如果KENJI, 你不提起, 我沒有留意GRANPA WAS DEAD
    [版主回覆03/18/2012 13:49:25]However, if she stays with her father, her mum will not leave the country and at least she can meet her mum from time to time... anyway, it is a very difficult decision.
    [詩韻回覆03/17/2012 18:16:30]女孩跟母親會好一點. 父親因為面子, 可能會做錯決定.
    [芝回覆03/17/2012 11:15:14]最看不過眼阿爸將責任推在女兒身上, 常要她做兩難的決定!
    [版主回覆03/11/2012 21:47:58]By the way, the director states clearly in an interview that he knows who the girl chooses at the end of the film. Who will she pick, her dad or mum? Any thoughts? Judging from the widening distance between the daughter and her dad who tells lies (symbolizing Iran’s conservative regime telling ties to cover its scandals), I guess she will opt for her mum who symbolizes freedom.
    [版主回覆03/11/2012 21:39:58]At the beginning of the movie,
    Simin says, "You give me one reason to stay."
    Nader replies, "I'll give you a thousand"
    Nader's father is just one of them.
    There are too many differences which lead to the last scene,
    despite the old man's death.

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  2. 原來 Kenji 今年才看?我還以為去年電影節你已經看了:p
    [版主回覆03/12/2012 17:31:33]I was not aware of this film until it got the Golden Globe and the Oscar Best Foreign Movie.

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  3. 正打算去看呢
    [版主回覆03/12/2012 17:31:54]The best film of the year so far! Share with us how you feel! ^^

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  4. 我都未去睇﹗真係要快d了^^
    [版主回覆03/12/2012 22:08:46]A must see in my opinion! Get well soon.

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  5. The Chinese translation of the title implies that it's a depressing film, yes?
    [版主回覆03/14/2012 22:34:37]Quite sad, but very thought provoking because of a series of moral dilemmas faced by the main characters.

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  6. will read your review after i've seen the movie :)
    [版主回覆03/29/2012 23:49:59]I can barely recall that scene, haha... my memory is not so good these days as I have been very busy. I guess it was broken by the hot tempered husband!? Not very sure if we are talking about the same scene. As for the integrity of the father, I love your analysis. The examples given by you are also solid proof of the man's goodness and so he does win some sympathy from the audience. His not giving up his father also shows his filial duty and his love for his country in contrast to his wife's love for foreign western countries with freedom. This is the best movie I have watched in 2012 so far. It ranks NUMBER ONE in my list!
    [Sloppy Joe回覆03/29/2012 21:55:35]okay, this is another scene that indicates the integrity of the father: at the court, when the judge summons the daughter, he could have told her what's the judge going to ask her, but he didn't. end up the daughter lies for him. hm...it has to be top 10 of 2012...just don't know the place yet! ;)
    [Sloppy Joe回覆03/29/2012 21:42:39]close to the end of the movie, after the family walked out from the maid's house, they found that the windshield of their car was broken. may i know what's your interpretation of that?
    [Sloppy Joe回覆03/29/2012 21:39:08]just watched this movie last nite, and i regret why i didn't watch it earlier.
    i couldn't make a decision at the moment whether this movie is my top 10, top 5 or top 3 in 2012 but i love this movie for sure. i like you using the word "multi-layer" to describe this movie which i think i understand what u mean and couldn't agree more.
    i love the dilemmas that built up in the movie. the father is a disciplinary person and full of integrity, with no service at gas station, he rather gives the money to his daughter than paying the tips, (rest, cannot remember but it's definitely not the only details that director tries to bring out the personality of the father). he loves his father and rather go for a divorce, than leaving his father in Iran. and at the end, it was found that he is a liar. of course, this is forgivable by the audience as he was just trying to protect his family in fact. at the same time, the maid thinks that the accusation of stealing is even more serious than the "murder" of his son. And there's also the witty daughter, who is only 11, but seems able to understand the facts and truth behind everything, not to mention the hot tempered husband, who is also a person full of integrity but end up he give up for the money.
    Wow....excuse for my poor english and my bad memory, there's so much details in the movie i tried to recall and share but i don't know how to write it down.
    i'm considering watch this movie again.
    impressive.
    [版主回覆03/16/2012 23:36:20]Thank you. It is not a very detailed review because I have been very busy these days. Still, I think it is interesting to look at the film from this perspective, we the audience as judges when confronted with a series of moral dilemmas. Don't miss it.

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  7. really worth being the great winner in AFA (4 awards)
    [版主回覆03/25/2012 14:41:09]VERY TRUE! It is a pity that many Hong Kong people are not aware of its release.

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  8. thanks for Kenji's review, I also consider to watch it later.
    [版主回覆03/25/2012 14:41:34]Thanks! I'm afraid it will be off soon.

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  9. 我仲未睇....
    [版主回覆04/02/2012 13:40:35]This is probably the best film of the year. Don't miss it!

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  10. Kenji, 有沒有hkiff影評/短評??'
    另, Footnote(註腳風雲)也很好看。
    [鯨魚回覆04/06/2012 11:49:39]Footnote 好睇!比 In Darkness 更好!
    [版主回覆04/04/2012 00:59:22]I posted some short reviews here: http://apps.facebook.com/nowmovie

    You may also ask me to comment on one or two movies.

    I skipped Footnote because there are not enough reviews on the internet and it seems that the film is just slightly above average according to the reviews. Plus, I am not able to squeeze time to watch more. I have been very busy with my work. Pooooor meeeeeeeeeeee!

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  11. how are you? ^_^
    A Separation 仲未睇.....>.<
    昨晚睇了Robo-G (HKIFF) G系機械人, 好笑,好看. =)
    [版主回覆04/05/2012 19:16:09]Busy Kenji as usual haha... how are you? A Separation is a must-watch in my humble opinion. GO GO GO!!!

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  12. 愛很爛得兩分,真係好爛噃 ... 咁午夜場殭屍片核突嗎??
    Take shelter 真係好好睇,結局好似係個寓言咁,你之前話睇完in darkness行出戲院種感動,Take shelter 俾到我。Shame 都好好睇,我係無expect 過呢套會感動的,配樂仲好正~

    順帶一提,HMV有Martha Marcy May Marlene 的DVD,有英字的~
    [版主回覆04/10/2012 15:29:36]Exactly - it is a low budget American indie with a capable cast, an eerie atmosphere and a creative ending which can be interpreted in different ways. One of the best movies in 2012 for sure. As for the dining scene in Shame, it is interesting to see Brandon trying to date a girl formally and this is probably one of his first attempts. He talks with the waiter clumsily and it seems that he is not familiar with the procedures on a first date.
    [鯨魚回覆04/09/2012 14:50:21]"Take shelter "個結局觀眾好似有啲代入咗Curtis 裡面咁,究竟一切是幻是夢?好震撼,見IMDb 仲有人聯想想莊周夢蝶,好勁呀!
    For "Shame ". Can't agree more! 睇你寫完我都唔洗寫了,我鍾意brandon 同女同事晚飯約會一場,一男一女除了性,其實仲可以談話溝通,彼此的意見及感情更樸實純淨及直接,睇得好舒服,對比起之後Brandon 的迷失,呢段簡直係天堂
    我都有睇"Into the abyss",睇完覺得成件事,殘忍,又有啲荒謬,當然遇難者家屬的傷痛是最深最痛的。成日話,咁多人死唔見呀邊個邊個死,但其實無人有權去決定任何人的生死吧。
    [版主回覆04/06/2012 13:51:36]殭屍片? You mean the zombie movie? 夏灣拿獵屍王 is of course disgusting haha, but I love it. The action sequences are original and I also like the political satire.

    Take shelter is a well acted movie with an ending which is left open to interpretation. There are at least two ways in which it can be interpreted. A very good independent movie.

    Shame is a well acted drama about a sex addict who fails to establish normal romantic relationship and his sister whom he unconsciously loves. The movie is beautifully shot, with blue and white appropriate used to highlight the main character's melancholy and his inability to love his sister and female colleague. Michael Fassbender is a handsome and good actor. The mirror scene in which his character is having orgasm and guilt is impressive. Carey Mulligan sings very well and the lyrics of her song are about their family background. Although the song is a bit too long, it seems that she is able to freeze the time and the scene is shot in real time with three cameras facing the three characters. It is a beautiful scene indeed. The two characters never mention their parents and the psychological problems faced by the brother and his sister can be attributed to their bad parents, as the sister once said that they come from a bad environment. Besides, when the sister has sex with his brother's boss, his brother is jealous, which makes me think that his brother unconsciously loves his sister, but he fails to do so because of his psychological problems probably caused by his parents. As for the first and the last MTR compartment scenes, we witness a change in the main character. As he blames his sister for not being aware of his boss's marriage ring in the middle, he begins to feel guilty as when he approaches a woman, he never cares whether she is married or not. At the end, although the woman tries to seduce him, he despises the woman, which shows that his moral values change. The only problem of the film is that many things are left to open interpretations and details are not given. Some movie lovers may find it thought provoking, but some may think it is just bad writing.

    Martha Marcy May Marlene - I have just bought it from HMV. Another one I have bought is Into the Abyss. THANKS!!!

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  13. http://maryandmusic.wordpress.com/2012/03/22/thoughts-from-the-movie-monsieur-lazhar/
    Monsieur Lazhar is so powerful and touching.
    [版主回覆04/09/2012 01:56:37]Thanks a lot for sharing the poem with me. I think it is one of the good films of the year.

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  14. The Tree and the Chrysalis
    by Bachir Lazhar
    After an unjust death,
    there’s nothing to say.
    Nothing at all.
    As will become plain below.
    From the branch of an olive tree,
    there hung a tiny chrysalis
    the color of emerald.
    Tomorrow it would be a butterfly,
    freed from it’s cocoon.
    Its. L-t-s.
    The tree was happy
    to see his chrysalis grown,
    but secretly, he wanted to keep her
    a few mor years.
    More, m-o-r-e.
    “So long as she remembers me.”
    He’d shielded her from gusts,
    saved her from ants.
    But tomorrow she would leave
    to affront alone predators
    and poor whether.
    Weather, w-e-a.
    That night,
    a fire ravaged the forest,
    and the chrysalis
    never became a butterfly.
    At dawn, the ashes cold,
    the tree still stood,
    but his heart was charred,
    scarred by the flames,
    scarred at grief.
    Scarred by grief.
    Ever since then,
    when a bird alights on the tree,
    the tree tells it about
    the chrysalis that never woke up.
    He pictures her, wings spread,
    [版主回覆04/10/2012 15:36:31]I think he is trying to talk about death subtly (through a poem) before he leaves. The theme of the movie is death. It seems to me that the students' mixed emotions are still repressed at the end of the movie. The Principal does not allow the teacher to talk about death openly with the students and the female teacher's death will leave a scar in the students' hearts for the rest of their lives. The students are the beautiful butterflies in the poem.
    [鯨魚回覆04/09/2012 14:23:48]Chestnut girl: Thanks for posting the fable! I'm you're right!
    [chestnut girl回覆04/09/2012 09:01:39]I think Mosieur Lazhar used this fable to say goodbye to the children, but only Alice understood the meaning. What do you think, Kenji?
    [版主回覆04/09/2012 01:56:06]A tree has a chrysalis and she protects it from rain and wind, hoping it would turn into a beautiful butterfly someday. But one day a storm came, and the chrysalis was blown to the ground. With a broken wing, the butterfly was never been able to see the world.

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  15. hello~~好嗎﹖假期看了多少套電影﹖好好enjoy ^^
    [版主回覆04/10/2012 15:38:30]Thanks for your visit. I have been busy marking compositions during the holidays. Still, I am able to squeeze some time to watch 10 HKIFF movies. I think the quality of the movies in 2012 is quite good for the time being. You too. Take good care of yourself as health is always important.

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  16. Son Cheung 正 義2012年4月14日 上午3:55


    [版主回覆04/14/2012 14:36:53]

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