By Elizabeth Puranam
After winning a spate of international film festival awards, A Separation has given Iran its first Oscar.
However the movie about a marriage breakdown was almost never made.
Some critics say is impossible to divorce the film from Iranian politics.
But at a time of heightened tensions between Iran and the US, the Academy was able to separate itself from American politics to present Iran with the award.
Sandra Bullock presented the award to writer and director Asghar Farhadi yesterday.
“And the Oscar goes to - A Separation, Iran, Asghar Farhadi,” she said.
Farhadi wrote and directed the domestic drama about a middle class couple on the brink of divorce.
“At a time when talk of war, intimidation and aggression is exchanged between politicians, the name of our country Iran is spoken here through our glorious culture,” he said on Sky News.
He faced his own political battle to get the film made.
The director was banned from making A Separation after his support for film-makers connected to the opposition Iranian Green movement offended authorities.
The ban was only lifted after he apologised saying his comments had been misperceived.
And in a final act of contrition, Farhadi dedicated the Oscar win to the people of Iran.
“I proudly offer this award to the people of my country, a people who respect all cultures and civilisations and despise hostility and resentment. Thank you so much.”
And today, Iran celebrated with him.
Iranians are calling it “an honour” and say Farhadi has made all Iranians proud
Farhadi said the only message he hopes Iranian people take from the film is to keep following cultural pursuits.
3 News
source: newshub archive
