A Separation (2:03) 2011 Iran

Simin wishes to leave Iran with her husband and eleven year old daughter. Her husband, Nader refuses to leave his father who lives with them and has Alzheimer's. Simin is granted a divorce and leaves to live with her family while the custody of their daughter is settled. Nader hires a pregnant woman to take of his father during the day. He returns home one afternoon to find his father has fallen out of bed and the caretaker has left. When the caretaker returns, an argument ensues setting off an unfortunate chain of events.  This is an interesting look at modern day Iranian life. The Iranian court system is so different from the American judicial system but a divorce is a divorce no matter where one lives. Families, with their strengths and dysfunctions, are universal. A Separation is a very realistic look marriage, divorce, parenting and taking care of an elderly parent. This foreign film should take home an Oscar tonight.