Asghar Farhadi’s 2012 Iranian film A separation is a portrait of a fractured relationship that cuts across the boundaries of gender. Masculinity is perpetuated to be the dominant form of gender, and often results in privilege in many ways. The movie reveals the male dominance embedded in Iranian culture through conflict. The men in the movie have a social, economic and political advantage over the women and thus center around the patriarchal society that retrains Iranian women. This male privilege subordinate’s women and does not allow them to coexist equally with the men. Through irrational logic, ego, and obstinacy, A separation reinforces the reality of this privilege, and the ways in which hegemonic masculinity is accepted through everyone.
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However, this is not the sole reason Simin chooses to leave the country. We know that if Nader could swallow his pride at any given moment in the film, she would have stayed. Nader is so stuck in his own reality that he refuses to understand the situation for what it is. His character, full of ego, obstinacy and honor ruins any hopes of mending their family and this is depicted so many times throughout the movie. When he fires Razieh and goes to see Simin, she informs him that Razieh’s sister-in-law called very angry and upset about what has happened to Razieh. Nader says, “that’s what you get for hiring people off the street” (0.48.46). It’s obvious that what has happened is by no means Simin’s fault, but Nader must blame someone. He is always so bitter and brings everything back to the fact that Simin left, thus making everything her fault. Furthermore, Nader promises Termeh that he will ask Simin to stay and when the time comes to do it, he retracts. Termeh questions her father and he says, “she will think it’s because she bailed me out” to which she replies, “so let her, dad please” (1.14.46). It seems as if all the women in the film, even Termeh understand that sometimes you must claim responsibility to mend the situation. Pride and ego are not all that important for the sake of repairing family but Nader cannot comprehend this because his obstinacy destroy any possibility of logic and problem solving. Later in the film, Simin is attempting to fix the legal situation with Razieh so that her child can be safe because unlike Nader she understands that her daughter is being greatly affected by the situation. She calmly brings up her concerns but is quickly stopped by Nader’s incapability of being rational. Simin asks him “Do you know what you’re doing?” (1.28.41) and “Why can’t you speak normally” (1.29.00) because he simply is not a man you can give and take
However, this is not the sole reason Simin chooses to leave the country. We know that if Nader could swallow his pride at any given moment in the film, she would have stayed. Nader is so stuck in his own reality that he refuses to understand the situation for what it is. His character, full of ego, obstinacy and honor ruins any hopes of mending their family and this is depicted so many times throughout the movie. When he fires Razieh and goes to see Simin, she informs him that Razieh’s sister-in-law called very angry and upset about what has happened to Razieh. Nader says, “that’s what you get for hiring people off the street” (0.48.46). It’s obvious that what has happened is by no means Simin’s fault, but Nader must blame someone. He is always so bitter and brings everything back to the fact that Simin left, thus making everything her fault. Furthermore, Nader promises Termeh that he will ask Simin to stay and when the time comes to do it, he retracts. Termeh questions her father and he says, “she will think it’s because she bailed me out” to which she replies, “so let her, dad please” (1.14.46). It seems as if all the women in the film, even Termeh understand that sometimes you must claim responsibility to mend the situation. Pride and ego are not all that important for the sake of repairing family but Nader cannot comprehend this because his obstinacy destroy any possibility of logic and problem solving. Later in the film, Simin is attempting to fix the legal situation with Razieh so that her child can be safe because unlike Nader she understands that her daughter is being greatly affected by the situation. She calmly brings up her concerns but is quickly stopped by Nader’s incapability of being rational. Simin asks him “Do you know what you’re doing?” (1.28.41) and “Why can’t you speak normally” (1.29.00) because he simply is not a man you can give and take