From NetFlix:
An Iranian husband and wife split up over his decision to stay and care for his aging father instead of leaving the country with his family. But his fateful choice to hire a stranger to do most of the caretaking breeds unexpected consequences.
After watching this two hour in Persian with subtitles, you will probably be somewhat tired. Do not let the opening give you the impression that you will watching “talking heads”. However, the entire story is one headache after the other for every character. If that is life in Iran, be grateful you do not live there. It is, in fact, the progression of annoying details that got me so interested that even when I felt tired, I still had to finish the film to see if or how so many problems were resolved.
Possibly I got incorrect impressions. But as far as I could tell:
- Differences between social classes are quite strong.
- Whereas the upper class seems secular (possibly atheist), the lower classes are religious to the point of scrupulosity.
- Everyone lies up to a point.
- One’s honor is very important.
- Iranians are very volatile.
- Court justice is somewhat arbitrary.
- Traffic is quite dense.
- Life in Iran is a nightmare.
While not at all a feel-good film, as a slice of Iranian life it could be riveting.
I loved this film. I felt it reflected a slice of Iranian life that miirrored our own, with some different cultural experiences.The complicated half truths seemed very real. When the film was awarded an Oscar for Best Foreign film, a big party was scheduled in Iran, but then abruptly cancelled. Honored throughout the world as one of the best films of the year, but closeted within its own country.