"Nader and Simin" a separation between art and farce
Since I saw the film the very first time at its premiere at the Berlinale Filmfestival 2011 and than two times more I wrote and told always this is the film to be send to the Oscars. I remember that after the first screening more than about 90% of the people agreed that it was going to win at least one Berlinale Bear Prize. However it went on to win not only the Golden Bear for best film, but also the whole amle and female actors were decorated with the the prizes of best actors.2009 the Iranians did send in About Elly, to the Academy, which was a brilliant film but had very little chance due to its distribution problems it in the united states.In case of "Nader & Simin a Seperation" the distribution, press and most importantly the film are flawless. So the chance to actually get selected and win the "Academy Award" is very good. But Iranian authorities are remaining somewhat ignorant on this matter, for they would rather send in the propaganda film "Theses" which drags Neda A. Sultan and many other after election fraud victims and activists in to the mud.I strongly advise everyone to watch this film where ever on the planet it is shown on screens, it has for my sense the most accurate feel of an Iranian original, not pretentious well scripted and directed from the angle of an artist, not a political activist. He maneges to tell a compelling story of a separation being jet at the same time being a political thriller like "Football under Cover" or "Offside" is.Where people at film festivals in the last years, saw in many Iranian films beauty and poetry I felt left out. First I thought that some grounds have bin settled and Iranian filmmakers had given there audiences abroad a toolbox that I lacked, a toolbox of secret poetic codes and symbols, I am not aware of an there for would not understand. However at some point I got the feeling as if the films were meant to be for those, who have no insight in the Iran of today but a rather dreamy idea of a land of poets and angel-minds who, suffering from the regime create magnificent art.Watching Asghar Farhadis film was like a revelation, to see serious storytelling combined with the power of pictures told; with an honest creative and artistic tongue, that needs no "dead-trees-blooming" nor "hundreds of goldfish suffocation" made me believe that we have true art left where the Islamic Republics censorship had turned art in to farce.As a great man once sang: "No time for dreaming" I believe this is a chance for Iranian filmmakers to overcome international assumptions and start with films true to life rather than a homage to it.Go out watch the film.
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