A Separation

Impressions before seeing it
Heard a lot of good things, it won the Best Foreign Film Oscar, and the trailer was intriguing. This was the last film on my list of movies from 2011 I wanted to see (top 10 list coming very soon!).

How was it?
As a result of this Iranian couple's separation, an altercation occurs that spirals into a serious legal matter that continues to escalate. Needless to say, it was intense and gripping in a way that has your full attention as you anticipate the next development in the conflict. The camera work is very unseemly, done in a handheld documentary style so that you can focus on the performances without being reminded that you're watching a movie. I always liked that about that style of shooting; it makes you feel like you're there.

The most interesting thing about A Separation is the way it plays with viewer sympathies. As the court case unfolded, I found it continuously difficult to choose a side; neither party was entirely right or wrong, because everyone was a bit of both. This conveniently puts us into a head space similar to that of Termeh, the couple's daughter who doesn't want to choose between her parents (though I should clarify, for those who haven't seen it, that the legal battle is not between husband and wife). Like Doubt, it is a film situated in a grey area that offers no solution; that's for you, the viewer, to decide. Not every moviegoer appreciates a movie with no closure, but I say those are the best films to discuss with others, because the answers are always up for debate.

Recommendation
No complaints; it was entirely entertaining and thought-provoking, and I learned a little about Iranian culture, too. If you don't hate subtitles or open endings, I definitely recommend it.