MovieChat Forums > Jodaeiye Nader az Simin (2011) Discussion > This is Iran?

This is Iran?

posted 11 years ago by ConDeuce
72 replies | jump to latest

Can anyone familiar with Iran tell me that this film depicts life there realistically? I certainly hope so.

I just finished watching "A Separation" a few days ago. It's an intense character study and extremely well acted and directed. What struck me more than anything else about it (and was a bit distracting) was how it presented the Iranian culture that differs so much from what most Americans (including me) perceive Iranian culture to be like. The casting of Leila Hatami certainly helped a lot because she looks very European/American but it was more the father's interaction with his daughter that struck me most. He was kind, supportive and fun with her and this truly surprised me. His relationship with her was very much the kind that I have with my own daughter.

Films like "A Separation" are so important because they give us an opportunity to experience life in another country with stories that anyone can relate to. I kept thinking while watching the movie how easily the movie's plot and characters could be transported to the US. Very universal.

I have read that the Iranian "authorities" are clamping down on freedom of expression and films like this may not be made anymore. That would be a real shame. "A Separation" is a film that more Americans should watch so they could get over their misunderstanding of Iranian culture and see how similar we are.

[–] Amirkia 11 years ago

I'm Iranian and I just want to say a thing... This is the real Iran! Besides good things in Iran , we see many cases per day like this! I'm sorry...

[–] ms-pg-mg-ghrheroes 11 years ago

I can only tell you that what this movie portrayed as Iranian culture didn't do justice to it at all.as you can see the relationship between the father & the daughter is almost the only positive thing that is shown but in reality our culture isn't that different from American's as on would think as a result of the propaganda in the Us.The image that foreigners especially American & Europeans have of Iranians & their culture is pretty much the same as Afghanistan & Iraq & Pakistan But as a matter of fact Iran is only in the same neighborhood as theirs .Another injustice that this movie did to our culture,was the barbaric ,uncivilized & unrealistic portray of the more Religious People Of our Country Who are not pathetic & uneducated & Violent as a majority & their stereotype shown by Asghar Farhadi was really unfair .
& as for the freedom Of speech,Don't you worry ,every one pretty much does whatever they like here & the "authorities" only in case of the endangerment of Public Safety & peace takes action.I feel the necessity to say that we love our country & any problem we have should be resolved among ourselves & no country is free of problems .
Generally We ,Iranians are humans like you & we even have much more in common with Americans than Europeans culture-wise. We love our family & Women aren't oppressed & girls & boys can talk to their parents freely ,just like you.We are a fan of family reunions & friendly gathering & going on a trip as a family or friendly group & as I already said since we are only humans we also have our faults just like the people of any other Country.We do lie ,cheat & quarrel but not as much as shown in this movie.I as an Iranian & as a human being knowing the truth was greatly offended by what this movie presented about us to the world.We Iranians don't hate other countries & have no problem with anyone if they don't wanna getaway our rights.On the contrary we actually are great fans of the western world especially The people Of the US

[–] franzkabuki 11 years ago

Yeah, this film - as well as the few Kiarostami films I`ve seen - serves as a perfect antidote to something like Argo, where Iranians are depicted as stupid and evil.

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

[–] Ricc0 11 years ago

I have read that the Iranian "authorities" are clamping down on freedom of expression and films like this may not be made anymore. That would be a real shame. "A Separation" is a film that more Americans should watch so they could get over their misunderstanding of Iranian culture and see how similar we are

Not true. Iranian cinema is growing stronger and to a new high level..

It is obvious from your post that you're against stereotypes, opinions formed beforehand, etc. From there you should know that the U.S. media is distorting the image of Iranian authorities as it is doing to the whole culture.

Someone else posted this:

If this movie is accurate, Iran looks surprisingly liberal. Women driving cars and children studying science.

This is all about it. The difference is in the struggle between the Iranian authorities and between U.S.A.. from there if you want to know who is right and who is wrong I think you should listen to the advise of the person with this post:

most of the middle east suffering to day because of U.S. creating and supporting brutal dictators and if you don't believe me read this book "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man" it will give you some idea
Saudi Arabia the most extreme country in the middle east is the best friend country to u.s .

Iran, Russia, and other countries could see the west strive for control and the problems they are causing. The resistance of Iran and its support for resistance movement comes from its knowledge of the dangers of servitude that may be brought upon the people of this area if the future Middle East that Rice described became a fact.

[–] epa101 10 years ago

The family in the film are portrayed as fairly wealthy. In every country, the poorer people keep more of the traditional culture of the country. A film about an Iranian working-class family would have been very different.

[–] behiplus 10 years ago

"In every country, the poorer people keep more of the traditional culture of the country." Wrong! I give you an example: UK.

[–] dkian8 10 years ago

WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD

[–] dkian8 10 years ago

WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD

[–] behiplus 10 years ago

Here are some random facts about Iran and Iranians you might find useful:

We do fart,pee,poo and masturbate and have sex like everyone else.
We don't have horns on our head neither a tail hanging from our asses.
Unlike popular belief the typical Iranian skin color is not blue and the hair color is not purple.
Some say Iran is nothing but a myth created by US government to scare it's people and Iranians who are sometimes sighted in different corners of the world are nothing but hoaxes to give the illusion that such country really exists.. That is mostly wrong. Iran does partially exist.
Most of dads here are kind to their daughters as weird as that may sound to you.
We really do have noses,that is not a shallow rumor.
We don't have kangaroos here. That's Denmark!