In Asghar Farhadi’s film, ‘A Separation’, Razieh and Nader’s dispute is the consequence of a string of actions and set of assumptions that have arisen because of different expectations and aspirations.
When hiring Razieh, Nader bestowed the duty of care of his father upon Razieh. It was implied that Razieh would devote her full attention towards his father when performing her duties. Contrastingly, although Razieh understood that her job required her to be the caretaker, she thought Nader would be more sympathetic and understand the reasons for her absence.
Differences cause tension
Subsequently, because both Nader and Razieh have different interests and expectations and pressures, there is a clash in priorities, interests and values.
Assumptions and expectations: we see things as we are
- There are many sides to conflict – people tend to see it from their perspective, especially when there is a lot at stake. Often there is just one’s ego and pride; other times, there is a lot of money at stake.
- Two families, each with one daughter, suffer a string of unfortunate events that harm every one of them.
- Each individual must make unenviable/undesirable and difficult choices
- Nader assumes that Razieh knows what he expects from her and the job; Hojjat says that Nader should have the sense not to hire a pregnant woman; assuming that Nader knows Razieh is pregnant; Razieh assumes that Nader would understand her situation and show more sympathy
- There is conflict between Simin and Nader regarding the welfare of Termeh and how to deal with the accusation of murder;
- Disagreement arises because of the circumstances: Razieh and Nader differ as to how he hit her and his treatment of her; they differ about Razieh’s negligence during the care of his father; Hojjat and Nader about Razieh’s situation; Simin and Razieh about the blood money Simin is offering; Hojjat and Razier about the fact that she is suspicious of whether Nader is responsible and refuses to swear on the Koran.
There is more than one side to conflict
Often we expect others to understand our motives; but they are often selective and self-interested. We assume that our intentions and reasons are clearly understood by those around us and when things are misinterpreted, it leads to disagreement and conflict. Ghandi once said, “What may appear as the truth to one person will often appear as untruth to another person.” Although we may think that our perspective is clear and obvious, to another individual it may not be – in fact, their understanding may be completely different.
The choices one makes: Dilemmas, choices, priorities and expectations
- The choices one makes under pressure and the way one handles dilemmas shows us who we are.
- Conflict often ensues where there is a great deal of mistrust and suspicion swirling between people.
- The accusations, the lies, the charges, the statements and comments hurled at each other inflame the tension.
- The personalities also influence and shape the string of events that lead to impossible dilemmas.
- The words people use and the stories they tell often inflame the conflict: there is often a lack of communication for dishonest purposes; many of them conceal facts in order to protect themselves of protect each other which ends up inflaming the conflict. This also increases the suspicion swirling between them.
- They are all under a great deal of personal stress, whether it be financial or emotional, or personal.
- Choosing to care for one person or favour one relationship jeopardises another.
- Nader dutifully tends to his father, and he does not take options, that Simin believe will benefit Termeh
The separation: daughters find themselves in an impossible situation
Each of the daughters appears to be emotionally harmed. Termeh is particularly withdrawn and Somayeh’s pain is evident in her drawings.
Each one becomes embroiled in the difficult relationship between the parents and often conceal details to protect the parents or to try to influence a more favourable outcome.
Termeh at times inflames the situation with her accusations. She tells her mother that if she hadn’t left, Nader would not be in jail. The mother explains that he hit a pregnant woman because he was upset. She constantly asks Termeh to “tell the truth”, but the “truth” is often becoming blurred through emotional circumstances and dubious, self-interested motives. She asks Termeh whether she told Nader that she was not leaving. (She saw her “stuff” in the car”.). She is desperate for her parents to repair their relationship.
Simin knows that Termeh is suffering as an adolescent and is saying things to prevent the divorce.
It also becomes a source of pride for Nader and he knows that he will lose face/dignity; he will lose Termeh’s trust. She knows that whilst Nader insists on his innocence, Simin says that he must have k known as he was not surprised when she ended up in hospital. Nader protests that the mother wants to “turn you against me”. Termeh urges Nader to approach Simin and find ways to conciliate but he refuses.
When Termeh finds out that her father lied about the knowledge of the carer’s pregnancy, she feels disappointed, even disillusioned.
Lies/deceit: The young girl Someyeh says, “I won’t tell dad” when Razieh enquires about changing the old man. Also, her drawings depict quarrelling parents. She is also looking for attention and becomes the victim of her own parents’ misfortunes.
At the end of the film, Someyeh looks at Termeh suggesting that she will endure similar problems. She, too, may be caught up in a separation because of the impossible problems of the parents.
Tension between parents
There is tension between the parents; Simin believes Termeh will have a better future in a western country. She wants to immigrate for the chance of a better life.
The Father wants to fulfil his duty of looking after his ailing father (dementia)
The parents do live separate lives, and Nader takes on a carer to look after the father but this becomes impossible when the carer proves to be unreliable. She has family issues of her own, including an unpredictable, volatile husband whose life is disintegrating.
Simin is often weeping; she is annoyed that after 14 years of marriage he does not show any emotion towards her. She is personally aggrieved that he does not ask her to look after Termeh when he is forced to spend a night in jail. He does not acknowledge or ask her for assistance with regards to bail etc. She admits that she “cannot handle the stress” caused by the murder charge and worries for Termeh’s safety.
Nader is so stressed that he tells the magistrate, that if he is charged, then “my life will be ruined”. He has a lot at stake.
Razieh and Hojjat
They have a dishonest relationship because Hojjat is so “hot-tempered”. Razieh is trying to help him out and pay their debts, but Hojjat also has a strong sense of pride and honour as the male and becomes very angry when Razieh makes decisions without his authority.
Deceit: Razieh: “don’t tell my husband”; she implores Nader not to tell her husband that “I came for the job”; she wants her husband to apply for the job without knowing about her employment. She asks Nader to say that she got the job out of the paper. “I don’t want him to know that I had the job”. She protests that she cannot do the “heavy work”. She does not mention her pregnancy, but one assumes that this would be the reason.
Lies/deceit: Razieh states that her husband did not come for work because the creditors had taken him away.
Nader and Razieh
Deceit: Razieh: “don’t tell my husband”; asks Nader that he does not tell her husband that “I came for the job”; she wants her husband to apply for the job without knowing about her employment; rather she got the job out of the paper. “I don’t want him to know that I had the job”. She protests that she cannot do the “heavy work”.
When Hojjat sees Nader at the hospital he wonders why he didn’t previously tell him about his wife’s employment, when he came for the job at the bank. Hot-tempered and volatile, he starts hitting Nader. He was very angry that he wasn’t told either by his sister.
Throughout, it is clear that Razieh lies to protect her husband but also fears his wrath. She does not anticipate the extent of her treachery and the fact that it exacerbates her situation, but she is clearly caught in an impossible situation.
Personalities shape the conflict; determine the outcome and the course; also inflame the tension
Hojjat is hot-tempered and for this reason, Razieh constantly fears his anger; there is always the suspicion that he struck her, thus causing the miscarriage.
Hojjat almost beats her when she refuses to swear on the Quoran. Also, Sam features quarrelling parents in her drawings.
Motives: Hojjat is incensed. He believes Nader did not just find out in the hospital; he came there because of his guilt. Nader says he came out of courtesy and respect. Hojjat is also angry that Nader wants to protect the involvement of the school to protect his child but he has just killed the unborn child. He feels that he is being treated like “an animal”.
Fabrication: Hojjat accuses Nader of fabrication; of manipulating the witnesses because he is clever and articulate. He believes because he is “hot-tempered” and unable to express himself he is at a disadvantage. Unemployed, he has no voice. He says that Nader is “twisting everything” to suit himself and in the process he is trampling on his own civil rights. “I can’t talk like this guy.” He lacks the powers of persuasion because “I am hot tempered”. Razieh also notes that her husband is often “stressed out” because of his debts and the creditors who are pursuing him. He is depressed and will easily tip.
Leading up to the fall: the “push”
Cover up: After Nader finds the father almost dead on the floor, Razieh tells Nader that she was “just gone briefly”. The grandfather “naps at this time”. Nader becomes very angry at her attempts to minimise her negligence. He becomes infuriated that Razieh had the audacity/boldness to leave his father unattended. Razieh justifies it on the grounds that Nader used to do it. But he said he didn’t tie the father to the bed.
Although she fell down the stairs, she refuses to acknowledge at first that the stairs were slippery because of the garbage.
Nader and Razieh quibble over the term “push”. Nader downplays the violence and brutality and says that he was ‘a bit rough”. Razieh disputes the push and says that he was very rough; he “threw” me. (“I didn’t throw you.”).
Knowledge of pregnancy: there is a lot at stake
Roughly, Nader pushes her out of the door and “flings” her down the stairs.
Did he know she was pregnant? This is critical to the sequence of events and the simmering conflict. There is a lot at stake.
Whilst Nader’s wife, Simin believes he must have known, Razieh’s husband believes that Nader is lying to the magistrate to save himself.
This knowledge becomes a source of tension and will determine whether Nader is imprisoned for 2-3 years for murder.
Nader knows that he must insist on innocence: he claims he would not have forced her out of the house had he known. He says that the chador hides the pregnancy. He says he would not have hired her if he knew of the pregnancy.
Razieh claims that she spoke of the pregnancy in front of the daughter and the tutor the tutor becomes embroiled.
It also becomes a source of pride for Nader and he knows that he will lose face/dignity; he will lose Termeh’s trust. She knows that whilst Nader insists on his innocence, Simin says that he must have k known as he was not surprised when she ended up in hospital. Nader protests that the mother wants to “turn you against me”.
Motives: Hojjat is incensed. He believes Nader did not just find out in the hospital; he came there because of his guilt. Nader says he came out of courtesy and respect. Hojjat is also angry that Nader wants to protect the involvement of the school to protect his child but he has just killed the unborn child. He feels that he is being treated like “an animal”.
Witnesses: It is difficult to both believe and disbelieve them. She appears credible but Hojjat is unconvinced. Mrs Lavasni’s testimony supports Nader’s. She says she knew of the pregnancy from the drawing and did not speak about it in front of Nader. At first she says that Razieh told her, and then that she asked after she saw the drawing. She said one couldn’t tell from her appearance. Hojjat accuses her of “fixing” the story. He pursues her at the school in order to intimidate her and accuses her of lying, shamefully. She protests that she is speaking the “truth” and is prepared to swear on the Koran.
Witnesses: Mrs Kalani: the landlord. Nader states that he must warn her to “beware of” the questions, but Termeh wonders why she needs to “beware” of anything. Is he influencing her? If she is telling the “truth” she does not need to be careful. Hojjat suspects Mrs Kal of lying to protect Nader and believes that they are all acting against him.
The accusation of theft: the mistrust and the language
Nader accuses Razieh of theft. She is personally very affronted/offended that he thought she was capable of taking his money. He also protests, “I didn’t say she stole”, but he was angry when he realised that the missing funds were the same figure as her pay.
She protests her innocence, “I didn’t steal”. He is not satisfied and she insists. She constantly returns to this accusation and believes it is more painful than the loss of her child. Anger simmers. She also claims that if she didn’t make a fuss, he would have thought that she stole it.
Suspicions increase: Nader then accuses Razieh of stealing the money, which increases her anger. “ I didn’t take the money” and she refuses to leave.
If Nader complains about the treatment of the father, then Razieh could be charged.
Does Nader know about the money? Is he using this as a foil for his anger about his father? Is he aware of his unjust accusation?
The Blood money: no easy solutions
Solution: Simin negotiates the 15 million settlement (instead of 40 million). Nader accuses her of interference, but Simin believes that he accuses her of meddling only when it suits. Previously, he took the bail.
Simin urges Nader to “put yourself in their place” and imagine their pain and resentment. She admits that she cannot deal with the stress of the problem and is worried about Termeh’s safety, especially because of Hojjat’s unpredictable obsessions. “I can’t handle the stress”.
Problems: Razieh confesses to Simin that Hojjat “will kill me” if he knew that she had divulged her fears and doubts about the miscarriage to her. She thinks the baby was already dead; it had stopped moving. She pleads with Simin not to pursue the matter.
Swear on the Koran
Razieh faces impossible choices, brought about by her religion and her duty to her own child and husband.
Nader asks her to swear an oath on the Koran that he caused the miscarriage. She is unable to do this; she fears that if she tells a lie, her daughter may suffer harm.
She is not sure whether the fall caused the pregnancy; she says she was hit by a car when searching for the grandfather on the previous day. There is also the innuendo that “hot-tempered” Hojjat may have hit her.
Desperate for the money, Hojjat pleads with her and is prepared to shoulder the blame. After Hojjat leaves in disgust, Razieh accuses Nader and Simin: “How will I live in this house”. I “told you not to come”. Sam looks at Termeh suggesting that she will endure similar problems. She, too, may be caught up in a separation because of the impossible problems of the parents.
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