Iran's Cinematic Spring.

MOTION picture industry; IRANIAN politics & government, 1997-; SEPARATION, A (Film); FARHADI, Asghar, 1972-; MOADI, Peyman; HATAMI, Leila; DIVORCE in motion pictures; FILM characters; FILMMAKERS

The article offers the author's insights on the film sector of Iran, as well as the political aspects associated with the industry. The author relates his hosting of a preview of the film "A Separation," directed by Asghar Farhadi in New Jersey in December 2011, wherein the audience voted the film as the best they had seen in the season. He says that despite their pride of their culture and accomplishments in the cinema, the association of the Iranian government and its filmmakers had been difficult. He discusses the film which features a couple, Simin and Nader, who were asking for divorce, portrayed by Leila Hatami and Peyman Moadi, respectively.