00:00:32:00 00:00:34:00 Monday Morning, 27 February 2012
00:00:35:00 00:00:38:00 It was about 4 in the morning
00:00:38:00 00:00:42:00 when we were watching
the city from the roof top.
00:00:42:00 00:00:47:00 We didn’t expect to see so many
houses with their lights on.
00:00:47:00 00:00:50:00 That night Asghar Farhadi got the
first Oscar for the Iranian Cinema.
00:00:50:00 00:00:53:00 This event was so important
for the people
00:00:53:00 00:00:57:00 that they waited up until dawn
to watch the ceremony.
00:00:57:00 00:01:02:00 And this town woke up and it was
an excuse for us to make this film.
00:01:02:00 00:01:10:00 From Iran: A Separation
00:01:13:00 00:01:15:00 A film by:
Azadeh Mousavi , Kourosh Attaee
00:01:17:00 00:01:19:00 It's better to begin the film in Iran.
00:01:19:00 00:01:22:00 Our country is located
in the Middle East
00:01:22:00 00:01:26:00 and has more than 7000
years of history.
00:01:26:00 00:01:28:00 You know where the
Middle East is?
00:01:28:00 00:01:30:00 The place where it is full of
oil and gas, and of course,
00:01:31:00 00:01:35:00 our neighboring countries
are all quite and calm.
00:01:54:00 00:01:56:00 Of course the events that
take place around Iran
00:01:56:00 00:01:57:00 are not that quiet either,
00:01:57:00 00:01:59:00  especially in the days
leading to the Oscar…
00:01:59:00 00:02:01:00 We'll tell you about it later,
00:02:02:00 00:02:06:00 let's deal with A Separation.
00:02:07:00 00:02:12:00 On a quiet summer day
in September 2010
00:02:12:00 00:02:15:00 Asghar Farhadi began
shooting his film.
00:02:15:00 00:02:16:00 Asghar Farhadi (Filmmaker):
00:02:16:00 00:02:19:00 The commencement of
A Separation was very bizarre.
00:02:19:00 00:02:24:00 I remember I had gone to Berlin with
my family over the Norouz holidays.
00:02:25:00 00:02:27:00 We were supposed to make
a movie in Berlin based
00:02:27:00 00:02:29:00 on a script written by
Mr. Maadi and I.
00:02:29:00 00:02:31:00 You know Mr. Maadi
 played in A Separation.
00:02:32:00 00:02:38:00 We made plans and we talked
with the producer for a while
00:02:38:00 00:02:40:00 and I went to Berlin
00:02:40:00 00:02:43:00 and to see the
ambience and stay there
00:02:43:00 00:02:46:00 work on the script in
order to finish it.
00:02:46:00 00:02:49:00 We were to pre-produce it.
00:02:49:00 00:02:54:00 One day I was standing
by the window
00:02:54:00 00:02:56:00 in the kitchen of my friend’s house.
00:02:57:00 00:03:01:00 I think I was drinking tea
and thinking about the script.
00:03:02:00 00:03:06:00 Suddenly I heard a song
from the next room.
00:03:06:00 00:03:11:00 It was a new version of
an old Iranian song
00:03:11:00 00:03:16:00 which I loved very much.
00:03:16:00 00:03:23:00 I forgot about the script as I
was pretty deep in the music.
00:03:23:00 00:03:28:00 I went to the other room
and listened to the song.
00:03:28:00 00:03:31:00 When it was over
00:03:31:00 00:03:34:00 I felt that my mind was
empty of the script
00:03:34:00 00:03:36:00 that we were supposed
to work on in Berlin.
00:03:36:00 00:03:40:00 It was as if that song had wiped
out everything in my mind.
00:03:40:00 00:03:44:00 The first thing I asked myself
was what I was doing there?
00:03:44:00 00:03:46:00 Why was I in Berlin?
00:03:46:00 00:03:49:00 Why did I want to make the film?
00:03:49:00 00:03:55:00 I felt that I had no
motivation to make that film.
00:03:55:00 00:03:57:00 Anyway,
00:03:57:00 00:04:03:00 a couple of days after that song,
 I was back in Tehran.
00:04:03:00 00:04:07:00 I went to my office the next day
after my arrival in Tehran.
00:04:08:00 00:04:10:00 I brewed some tea as usual
00:04:10:00 00:04:15:00  and sat behind my desk
to make notes of my idea.
00:04:15:00 00:04:21:00 The first note that I made
 was about this image,
00:04:21:00 00:04:25:00 a memory that my elder
brother had once told me.
00:04:25:00 00:04:31:00 I had a grandfather that
I lost a few years ago.
00:04:31:00 00:04:35:00 I had spent a great deal
of my childhood with him.
00:04:35:00 00:04:36:00 My brother told me
00:04:36:00 00:04:42:00 that one day he decided
to bathe my grandfather.
00:04:44:00 00:04:46:00 When he was washing him,
00:04:46:00 00:04:50:00 the feelings that came over
him were so unbelievable
00:04:50:00 00:04:56:00 that he hugged our grandfather
and started crying.
00:04:56:00 00:05:00:00 The image of a young lad
 in a bathroom
00:05:00:00 00:05:05:00 putting his head on
an old man’s shoulder and crying
00:05:05:00 00:05:08:00 was very touching
00:05:08:00 00:05:11:00 and I thought this could
be the beginning.
00:05:31:00 00:05:35:00 No-one can argue that everyone
likes to hear a beautiful story.
00:05:35:00 00:05:37:00 In my opinion in A Separation,
00:05:37:00 00:05:42:00 what I took from a big
and successful movie
00:05:42:00 00:05:44:00 in the world is first of all to know
00:05:44:00 00:05:48:00 that we are telling a story
that everyone likes to hear.
00:05:48:00 00:05:49:00 - I swear if…
- Get out…
00:05:49:00 00:05:51:00 - Don't touch me sir!
- I said get out!
00:05:53:00 00:05:54:00 Shahab Hosseini
(playing the role of Hodjat):
00:05:54:00 00:05:56:00 The concern was
so important to me
00:05:56:00 00:05:59:00 that I felt as if
I was Hodjat’s attorney
00:05:59:00 00:06:02:00 and it was my duty to defend
him in the court the next day.
00:06:02:00 00:06:04:00 He hit my wife, killed my child.
00:06:04:00 00:06:06:00 I've lost my life; you're
scaring me of imprisonment?
00:06:07:00 00:06:10:00 There were so many
like Hodjat out there.
00:06:10:00 00:06:13:00  or I'll find out what your story is
with the husband of this woman.
00:06:13:00 00:06:14:00 You either come to court
and say that you lied
00:06:14:00 00:06:17:00 It's a reflection of the society:
00:06:17:00 00:06:20:00  a true reflection without any playact
00:06:20:00 00:06:25:00 or aiming for the box office hit
00:06:26:00 00:06:31:00 like a tourism attraction
for foreigners.
00:06:35:00 00:06:37:00 I'm taking Shajarian's CD.
00:06:37:00 00:06:43:00 You get to empathize
with all the characters
00:06:43:00 00:06:46:00 in the movie and you believe
that they are all right.
00:06:51:00 00:06:53:00 Newspaper headline: The end
of a much-discussed movie.
00:06:53:00 00:06:57:00 The much-discussed movie
of Farhadi came to an end.
00:07:02:00 00:07:05:00 This is the Fajr Film Festival.
00:07:05:00 00:07:09:00 The premiere screening of
A Separation was at this festival.
00:07:10:00 00:07:14:00 This queue is for A Separation.
00:07:15:00 00:07:20:00 We had to wait in line for
hours on a cold winter night.
00:07:37:00 00:07:39:00 We have been here
since 6 in the morning.
00:07:39:00 00:07:42:00 There's supposed to be an extra
show so we could buy tickets.
00:07:42:00 00:07:43:00 If they do so!
00:07:43:00 00:07:45:00 Some people have queued
up since last night.
00:07:45:00 00:07:47:00 No, not since last night,
since 8 yesterday morning.
00:07:47:00 00:07:49:00 Since 8 yesterday morning.
00:07:49:00 00:07:51:00 You mean you've
queued up for 2 days?
00:07:51:00 00:07:53:00 - Yes, it's been 2 days.
- For what?
00:07:53:00 00:07:54:00 For Farhadi’s film.
00:07:54:00 00:07:55:00 Newspaper Headline:
00:07:55:00 00:08:00:00 People slept on the street while
lining up for Farhadi’s film.
00:08:13:00 00:08:17:00 A Separation:
a film by Asghar Farhadi.
00:08:26:00 00:08:28:00 How was the movie?
00:08:28:00 00:08:30:00 It was wonderful…
00:08:30:00 00:08:34:00 a masterpiece… a masterpiece…
a masterpiece…
00:08:34:00 00:08:37:00 a humanitarian film and
totally meaningful…
00:08:37:00 00:08:40:00 the subject made you think and
00:08:40:00 00:08:45:00 when you start thinking it
means the film was effective.
00:08:45:00 00:08:47:00 We voted for A Separation.
00:08:47:00 00:08:51:00 A Separation as the
Audience Favorite Film…
00:08:51:00 00:08:55:00 A Separation won the Crystal
Simorghs for the Best Director,
00:08:55:00 00:08:59:00 Best Script, Best Cinematography,
Best Sound Recorder,
00:08:59:00 00:09:01:00 and Diplomas of Honour
for the Best Actor
00:09:01:00 00:09:03:00 in a Supporting Role and the
Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
00:09:03:00 00:09:08:00 But the jury didn’t select
the film as the best film.
00:09:08:00 00:09:13:00 Asghar Farhadi was not present
at the ceremony
00:09:13:00 00:09:16:00 that’s why A Separation was able to
achieve such unprecedented awards.
00:09:16:00 00:09:18:00 Along with the Fajr Festival,
the Berlin Film Festival
00:09:18:00 00:09:20:00 was also taking place,
where A Separation
00:09:20:00 00:09:23:00 was able to achieve the Golden
Berlin Bear for the Best Film,
00:09:23:00 00:09:26:00 the Silver Berlin Bears for all
the actresses and actors.
00:09:34:00 00:09:36:00 Asghar I’m yours truly!
00:09:44:00 00:09:46:00 The film was screened
in Norouz 2011.
00:09:46:00 00:09:48:00 Everybody had heard
something about the film.
00:09:49:00 00:09:52:00 It has a good name…
00:09:53:00 00:09:55:00 Bijan and I don’t know…
00:09:56:00 00:09:58:00 something like that…
00:09:58:00 00:09:59:00 a man and a woman’s name…
00:09:59:00 00:10:01:00 And this gentleman seems
to have heard more things.
00:10:01:00 00:10:03:00 I’ve heard about the film
00:10:03:00 00:10:06:00 but unfortunately I haven’t seen it.
I know the story…
00:10:07:00 00:10:09:00 it’s about a married couple,
00:10:09:00 00:10:11:00 the husband has a father…
00:10:11:00 00:10:13:00 I think his father is ill…
00:10:14:00 00:10:16:00 he can’t walk or something.
00:10:16:00 00:10:20:00 The son is looking after his
father and he bathes him.
00:10:20:00 00:10:23:00 The wife is OK with it, I think,
00:10:23:00 00:10:25:00  if I’m right…
00:10:25:00 00:10:27:00 with the father to stay with them,
00:10:27:00 00:10:29:00 but she likes to go abroad…
00:10:29:00 00:10:30:00 for some reasons!
00:10:30:00 00:10:33:00 The reasons are not clear in the film
00:10:33:00 00:10:35:00 but anyone who watche
the film will find out!
00:10:35:00 00:10:39:00 I think everybody saw some
part of themselves in the movie.
00:10:39:00 00:10:40:00 All these children live in this country;
00:10:40:00 00:10:42:00 you mean none of them
have a future Ma’am?
00:10:42:00 00:10:45:00 I prefer my child not
to be raised in such conditions,
00:10:45:00 00:10:47:00  - as a mother I have this right.
- What conditions?
00:10:47:00 00:10:49:00 What conditions lady?
00:10:49:00 00:10:52:00 Simin was right too,
the future of her child…
00:10:52:00 00:10:54:00 What’s wrong with our culture,
why does she want to take her abroad
00:10:54:00 00:10:56:00  and get her to know
the foreign culture?
00:10:56:00 00:11:01:00 We have to be after a better
life for our children.
00:11:01:00 00:11:04:00 I’m worried about the future of
my daughter in this country too…
00:11:04:00 00:11:09:00 Why? What’s wrong with this country?
00:11:09:00 00:11:12:00 Do they have as much history
and civilization as we do?
00:11:12:00 00:11:16:00 She’s not leaving in order to
ruin things or for pleasure.
00:11:16:00 00:11:19:00 She is immigrating to
evaluate another situation
00:11:19:00 00:11:22:00 and build a better life.
00:11:22:00 00:11:25:00 I haven’t found a solution
00:11:25:00 00:11:27:00 but this is what she found.
00:11:27:00 00:11:29:00 - I swear… I…
- Lady…
00:11:29:00 00:11:31:00 This is my bag sir…
00:11:31:00 00:11:32:00 Why are doing this?
00:11:32:00 00:11:37:00 I swear to God I didn’t pass
this threshold…
00:11:37:00 00:11:39:00 - Lady, get out…
- You’re saying I…
00:11:39:00 00:11:40:00 - Lady, get out…
- What have I done?
00:11:40:00 00:11:43:00 - Lady, get out!
- Don’t touch me sir!
00:11:43:00 00:11:45:00 OK, I won’t touch you.
Get out then!
00:11:45:00 00:11:48:00 Please lady, let yourself out.
I won’t leave until I get my money.
00:11:49:00 00:11:53:00 It interprets the Iranian society
with a couple of characters.
00:11:53:00 00:11:58:00 The Iranian society which is
in transit from a traditional society
00:11:58:00 00:12:03:00 to a modern one but has
not digested the modern concepts.
00:12:03:00 00:12:07:00 For the first time it presented
a realistic view of
00:12:07:00 00:12:11:00 the middle class city dwellers that
is the majority of the society.
00:12:11:00 00:12:16:00 It’s the confrontation of modernity,
tradition and religion in Iran
00:12:16:00 00:12:20:00 and it is not clear
what the result would be.
00:12:21:00 00:12:23:00 How much is his daily income?
00:12:23:00 00:12:25:00 How much does he profit daily?
00:12:25:00 00:12:27:00 What do we do?
00:12:27:00 00:12:30:00 You lied.
00:12:30:00 00:12:32:00 What?
00:12:33:00 00:12:35:00 You lied.
00:12:35:00 00:12:37:00 About what?
00:12:37:00 00:12:41:00 It’s interesting; we would pay to
watch being criticized in the theater.
00:12:41:00 00:12:43:00 Because we lie a lot to each other.
00:12:43:00 00:12:47:00 In my opinion this film
is totally religious.
00:12:47:00 00:12:49:00 What does our religion say?
We are Muslims.
00:12:49:00 00:12:51:00 Most of us are Shiites.
00:12:51:00 00:12:54:00 Our Islam says that we have
to have each other’s back.
00:12:54:00 00:12:56:00 Help a sick person.
00:12:56:00 00:13:00:00 We have to be each other’s ally
in the most difficult situations.
00:13:00:00 00:13:02:00 It’s bad to lie in Islam.
00:13:02:00 00:13:07:00 If you have to choose between getting
into trouble and be disgraced
00:13:07:00 00:13:10:00 but not lie, you should not lie.
00:13:10:00 00:13:12:00 His creditors are sitting here!
00:13:12:00 00:13:16:00 Please don’t disgrace him!
00:13:16:00 00:13:18:00 I won’t swear.
00:13:18:00 00:13:21:00 She didn’t swear on the Koran
in order to get money in return.
00:13:21:00 00:13:23:00 Well, what is your
decision young lady?
00:13:23:00 00:13:25:00 Your parents want you to decide.
00:13:25:00 00:13:28:00 Now that they are separating
who do you want to live with?
00:13:28:00 00:13:32:00 You want to be with your Dad
or your Mom?
00:13:32:00 00:13:33:00 Have you decided or not?
00:13:33:00 00:13:36:00 Yes.
00:13:36:00 00:13:41:00 This girl will live with her father.
00:13:41:00 00:13:43:00 It will let the audience to judge
00:13:43:00 00:13:45:00 because it hasn’t
reached a result yet.
00:13:45:00 00:13:47:00 She will pick her mother.
00:13:47:00 00:13:50:00 In fact there is no
choosing in a way.
00:13:50:00 00:13:52:00 This is a hard pick.
00:13:52:00 00:13:55:00 You don’t know which one to pick.
00:13:55:00 00:13:58:00 In my opinion Termeh
represents a generation:
00:13:58:00 00:14:01:00 a generation which is
on the road to ruin
00:14:01:00 00:14:04:00 because of the stubbornness
and deep hatred
00:14:04:00 00:14:08:00 and nobody pays attention to it.
00:14:08:00 00:14:11:00 This is the way the people
supported the film.
00:14:12:00 00:14:14:00 This is the third time
I’m watching the film.
00:14:14:00 00:14:17:00 I saw it twice when it
was screened publically.
00:14:17:00 00:14:21:00 This was my first time but I think
I can watch it two more times.
00:14:21:00 00:14:23:00 I’ve seen it trice.
00:14:23:00 00:14:25:00 I watched it twice…
00:14:25:00 00:14:26:00 Four times…
00:14:27:00 00:14:30:00 and A Separation earned billions.
00:14:30:00 00:14:36:00 The film had drawn the attention of
the Iranian Cinema critics very much.
00:14:36:00 00:14:39:00 There was almost no
newspaper or magazine
00:14:39:00 00:14:42:00 that had not published an
article on A Separation.
00:14:43:00 00:14:46:00 The opinions weren’t all positive.
00:14:46:00 00:14:50:00 The whole film is explaining
the mother’s message
00:14:51:00 00:14:54:00 that here is not a place to live
and I want to take my child.
00:14:54:00 00:14:55:00 If this is what the film is about,
00:14:55:00 00:14:57:00 I have more serious
debates about it.
00:14:57:00 00:15:01:00 Mr. Farasati, TV fixed
and trustworthy critic
00:15:01:00 00:15:05:00 A Separation is a week mediocre film
00:15:05:00 00:15:07:00 - that justifies lies…
- Weak or mediocre?
00:15:07:00 00:15:09:00 Weak…
average weak…
00:15:09:00 00:15:12:00 we have average weak…
00:15:12:00 00:15:15:00  it justifies lies and
00:15:15:00 00:15:17:00 talks about leaving Iran.
00:15:17:00 00:15:21:00 Some newspapers considered
it an anti-Iranian movie.
00:15:21:00 00:15:23:00 thankful…
00:15:23:00 00:15:25:00 I mean I want to say what
kind of terms
00:15:25:00 00:15:26:00  they are teaching our children…
00:15:26:00 00:15:29:00 The film was debated about
at religious places too.
00:15:29:00 00:15:32:00  hard Arabic words…
00:15:32:00 00:15:34:00 It means you saved
us from the westerners
00:15:34:00 00:15:36:00 and handed us over to the Arabs?
00:15:36:00 00:15:37:00 The interesting thing is that
00:15:37:00 00:15:40:00 he lands in prison and
when he gets out,
00:15:40:00 00:15:43:00 Simin of the opposition,
says I brought you out.
00:15:43:00 00:15:46:00 If it weren’t for my pressures
you would have stayed in prison.
00:15:46:00 00:15:50:00 This is an exact sarcasm
that western and foreign pressures
00:15:50:00 00:15:53:00  lead to the release
of some prisoners.
00:15:53:00 00:15:55:00 The debate was serious among people.
00:15:55:00 00:15:58:00 You know how it portrayed
the Iranian society…
00:15:58:00 00:16:01:00 a veiled woman who is weak,
is a maid
00:16:01:00 00:16:05:00 but civilized women
whose hijab are… well…
00:16:05:00 00:16:09:00 who live among a certain class,
have the right!
00:16:09:00 00:16:10:00 Why Ma’am? No… listen.
00:16:10:00 00:16:12:00 Of course it was
doing the exact thing.
00:16:12:00 00:16:15:00 The people who are from a poor
background, are religious, are weak,
00:16:15:00 00:16:18:00 and their men are nervous,
they hit their women…
00:16:18:00 00:16:21:00 Rich men are nervous too…
Mr. Peyman Maadi…
00:16:21:00 00:16:23:00 No, he was shown
as a logical person…
00:16:23:00 00:16:24:00 No, he was nervous too but…
00:16:24:00 00:16:26:00 He seemed very rational…
very civilized and logical.
00:16:26:00 00:16:28:00 In your opinion, is it unrealistic?
00:16:28:00 00:16:31:00 Really! Is it like this in
our society, is it?
00:16:31:00 00:16:34:00 But it showed in the film that the
woman who was wearing the chador
00:16:34:00 00:16:36:00 didn’t touch anything in the house.
That was a positive thing.
00:16:36:00 00:16:38:00 If she was not civilized, she
could have done the opposite.
00:16:38:00 00:16:40:00 Why don’t you look
at it this way?
00:16:40:00 00:16:42:00 Our points of views
are different.
00:16:42:00 00:16:44:00 No, it showed this. But on the other
side what was it magnifying?
00:16:44:00 00:16:47:00 The fact that she didn’t take the
money was much more magnified
00:16:47:00 00:16:49:00 than the fact that she
was beaten up by her husband.
00:16:49:00 00:16:51:00 She didn’t take the money; she
could have in the last moment…
00:16:51:00 00:16:53:00 You mean this is what
it was magnifying;
00:16:53:00 00:16:54:00 you mean it focused
on this matter?
00:16:54:00 00:16:56:00 No… it was never like that!
00:16:56:00 00:16:57:00 Lady, what does cinema mean?
00:16:57:00 00:16:59:00 Cinema is able to magnify things
so they could be observed;
00:16:59:00 00:17:01:00 Exactly…
this was its message…
00:17:01:00 00:17:04:00 this is what art means…
But Mr. Farhadi’s aim was not this;
00:17:04:00 00:17:06:00 A Separation’s goal was not this…
00:17:06:00 00:17:09:00 His previous film,
About Elly, said the same thing.
00:17:09:00 00:17:15:00 It was gradually, as they say,
normalizing it.
00:17:15:00 00:17:20:00 A married woman who is committed
can have other relationships…
00:17:20:00 00:17:24:00 Lady, do you accept the truth
in the society, in Iran?
00:17:24:00 00:17:26:00 Well yeah… we see that…
 I’m a university professor…
00:17:27:00 00:17:28:00 There’s mosque, there’s chador…
00:17:28:00 00:17:30:00 God bless you… there’s mosque,
00:17:30:00 00:17:32:00 there’s chador,
there’s forced heaven.
00:17:33:00 00:17:35:00 Stand here and you’ll see.
The forced heaven is here too.
00:17:36:00 00:17:38:00 You want to deny the truth
existing in the society?
00:17:38:00 00:17:40:00 What sort of a
society do we have?
00:17:40:00 00:17:42:00 Islamic Republic of Iran!
00:17:42:00 00:17:46:00 Mr. Farhadi has respectfully
 broken some of the norms
00:17:46:00 00:17:48:00 in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
00:17:48:00 00:17:50:00 Will it not extenuate the issue?
00:17:50:00 00:17:52:00 It wouldn’t extenuate the issue?
00:17:52:00 00:17:55:00 - No Ma’am, why would it?
- No what for?
00:17:55:00 00:17:58:00 It wouldn’t extenuate the issue?
00:17:58:00 00:17:59:00 It will gradually happen…
00:17:59:00 00:18:01:00 When they make
programs on addiction and AIDS
00:18:01:00 00:18:04:00 and broadcast it on the TV,
does it extenuate the matter?
00:18:04:00 00:18:06:00 - No, that’s different.
- It’s informative.
00:18:06:00 00:18:08:00 They’re just being informative…
no, what difference does it make?
00:18:08:00 00:18:12:00 - Well, as a Muslim woman, well…
- We’re all Muslims lady.
00:18:12:00 00:18:14:00 None of us are non-Muslims.
00:18:14:00 00:18:18:00 No, I’m not saying that I’m the
only Muslim and the rest are not…
00:18:18:00 00:18:21:00 but I don’t agree with this
point of view… I don’t…
00:18:21:00 00:18:23:00 Well that’s your personal opinion…
00:18:23:00 00:18:25:00 I mean I think that if
you want to criticize
00:18:25:00 00:18:27:00 it from the Islamic point of view,
it really should be criticized.
00:18:27:00 00:18:28:00 As they say, I…
00:18:28:00 00:18:31:00 It was the Islamic code and boundary.
Don’t say this lady.
00:18:31:00 00:18:33:00 We all have a reputation.
We are all Muslims.
00:18:33:00 00:18:35:00 We are not against the
Islamic Republic of Iran.
00:18:35:00 00:18:36:00 That’s not the point.
00:18:36:00 00:18:37:00 No, unfortunately we don’t
like certain taboos;
00:18:37:00 00:18:40:00 Debates over this film continued
in various forms…
00:18:40:00 00:18:41:00 And now
00:18:41:00 00:18:46:00 the topic of selecting a film to
represent Iran in the Oscar!
00:18:49:00 00:18:52:00 As usual the Farabi Cinema Foundation
00:18:52:00 00:18:57:00 gathered a number of cinematic
figures behind closed doors and
00:18:57:00 00:18:59:00 they started selecting a film.
00:19:00:00 00:19:05:00 Outside that room the debates over
the selection of a film was very hot.
00:19:06:00 00:19:09:00 Some believed that the best selection
was A Separation
00:19:09:00 00:19:11:00 and some were against it.
00:19:14:00 00:19:17:00 The people followed up the subject and
00:19:17:00 00:19:20:00 they would vote for
this film at the polls.
00:19:20:00 00:19:23:00 Even on the facebook…
(Access to this site is denied)
00:19:23:00 00:19:25:00 Wait…
00:19:27:00 00:19:31:00 yes, even here a page was set up
in support of the film.
00:19:31:00 00:19:35:00 Now everyone was waiting
for the election committee…
00:19:35:00 00:19:39:00 and finally A Separation was chosen.
00:19:41:00 00:19:44:00 Of course a few days later
Mr. Shamaghdari,
00:19:44:00 00:19:46:00  the Cinematic Deputy of the Ministry
of Culture and Islamic Guidance said:
00:19:47:00 00:19:49:00 “Oscar is not that important
00:19:49:00 00:19:53:00 and it is similar to our
Gachsaran Cinema Ceremony!
00:19:53:00 00:19:55:00 ” Gachsaran is a small city
00:19:55:00 00:19:58:00 in the south of Iran with
the population of 130’000.
00:19:58:00 00:20:03:00 There is only one movie theatre
which was closed a few years ago!
00:20:03:00 00:20:07:00 Unfortunately we couldn’t find
anything on this ceremony!
00:20:07:00 00:20:10:00 A Separation never
returned home empty handed
00:20:10:00 00:20:13:00 after participating in various festivals.
00:20:23:00 00:20:26:00 Peyman Maadi: We were sitting
at the Golden Globe
00:20:26:00 00:20:31:00 when we saw Madonna
take the floor and
00:20:31:00 00:20:37:00 I said to myself Jesus Christ!
00:20:37:00 00:20:48:00 What should we do with her?
00:20:49:00 00:20:56:00 It’s not easy for an Iranian filmmaker
to participate in foreign festivals.
00:20:56:00 00:21:00:00 There are rules as follows:
00:21:00:00 00:21:01:00 Behavior manners:
00:21:01:00 00:21:04:00 You shouldn’t do anything bad.
00:21:04:00 00:21:06:00 Verbal manners:
00:21:06:00 00:21:08:00 You shouldn’t say anything bad.
00:21:08:00 00:21:11:00 Dressing manners:
00:21:11:00 00:21:16:00 which is divided into men and women:
you shouldn’t wear anything bad.
00:21:16:00 00:21:18:00 that it depends on who
gives you the award.
00:21:18:00 00:21:20:00 Something else which
is really important is
00:21:38:00 00:21:41:00 The successes of A Separation
would strengthen
00:21:42:00 00:21:44:00 the film in the Iranian Cinema and
00:21:44:00 00:21:46:00 among it's fans but at the
same time it would make
00:21:46:00 00:21:49:00 the ones who were against
the film angrier.
00:21:50:00 00:21:53:00 Some believed that
the western mafia was involved...
00:21:53:00 00:21:57:00 Farhadi didn’t observe the manners
for participating in the festival...
00:21:57:00 00:22:00:00 when A Separation
received the award
00:22:00:00 00:22:02:00 it was like as if a thief
had received the award...
00:22:02:00 00:22:04:00 And some…
Alireza Sadjadpour:
00:22:04:00 00:22:07:00 Whether these festivals
give awards or not,
00:22:07:00 00:22:08:00 either way
00:22:08:00 00:22:11:00 it is based on inartistic
and non-cultural reasons.
00:22:11:00 00:22:13:00 Jamal Shoorjeh (Filmmaker):
Any way,
00:22:13:00 00:22:17:00 this is a shortcoming that
some of our filmmakers
00:22:17:00 00:22:20:00 who are good filmmakers
are subdued
00:22:20:00 00:22:25:00 by the West and are
indifferent to the interests
00:22:25:00 00:22:28:00 and taste of their own society.
00:22:28:00 00:22:30:00 Sadjadpour: This is
completely politicized and
00:22:30:00 00:22:33:00 we consider them to have no
artistic and cultural aspects.
00:22:33:00 00:22:35:00 Policy determines who
the winners are.
00:22:35:00 00:22:38:00 Shoorjeh: I don’t recall
any films over
00:22:38:00 00:22:41:00 the past 3 decades which
have brought honour,
00:22:41:00 00:22:44:00 power, beautification
and grandeur for Iran
00:22:44:00 00:22:47:00 and to have participated
in these festivals.
00:22:47:00 00:22:50:00 In the middle of all this A Separation
got nominated for
00:22:50:00 00:22:55:00 the Best Script and Best Foreign
Language Film at the Oscar.
00:22:56:00 00:23:01:00 This took place during the time when
more sanctions were imposed on Iran.
00:23:01:00 00:23:04:00 Israel was constantly
threatening Iran
00:23:04:00 00:23:08:00 and 5+1 would meet regularly…
00:23:08:00 00:23:11:00 news on Iran was very worrying.
00:23:41:00 00:23:44:00 In this higgledy-piggledy
world situation,
00:23:44:00 00:23:48:00 the name of Iran was being
raised through its cinema
00:23:49:00 00:23:52:00 and we were all waiting
for the Oscar night.
00:23:52:00 00:23:55:00 The TV would not
broadcast the ceremony.
00:23:55:00 00:23:57:00 We had to find a way
to watch the Oscar.
00:24:08:00 00:24:10:00 Some people were sharing
00:24:10:00 00:24:14:00 the frequency of the networks that
would broadcast the ceremony.
00:24:14:00 00:24:17:00 And finally the Oscar night arrived…
00:24:18:00 00:24:21:00 The people have to judge, the girl…
00:24:24:00 00:24:27:00 It will win, the script,
I really believe…
00:24:28:00 00:24:29:00 Give the Oscar to him!
00:24:29:00 00:24:31:00 Hopefully Asghar Farhadi
00:24:33:00 00:24:37:00 And it was about 4 in the morning
when the ceremony began…
00:24:37:00 00:24:38:00 I’m saying it’s not going to win.
00:24:38:00 00:24:42:00 - No, see, it won all the awards.
- not that it is not going to win…
00:24:42:00 00:24:44:00 If it wasn’t supposed to win,
00:24:44:00 00:24:46:00  it wouldn’t have
received so many awards…
00:24:46:00 00:24:50:00 That night a lot of us
had gathered together.
00:24:50:00 00:24:52:00 This is me!
00:24:52:00 00:24:54:00 And this is me!
00:24:55:00 00:24:58:00 Quite, if you are bored
we can change the channel.
00:24:58:00 00:24:59:00 - No, I’ll get it myself.
- Be quite!
00:25:01:00 00:25:02:00 Enough, we want to hear…
00:25:05:00 00:25:07:00 Wow it is so beautiful.
00:25:23:00 00:25:25:00 Peyman Maadi: I think
it took 2 minutes
00:25:26:00 00:25:28:00 for Sandra Bullock to
come onto the stage.
00:25:28:00 00:25:30:00 I was nervous.
00:25:30:00 00:25:33:00 I mean I could feel
all the stress that I
00:25:33:00 00:25:35:00 hadn’t felt throughout the
year, coming over me.
00:25:35:00 00:25:37:00 Leila Hatami:
In fact all the Iranians
00:25:37:00 00:25:40:00 were watching us on their TVs.
00:25:40:00 00:25:43:00 It was a collective anticipation
00:25:43:00 00:25:45:00 and was not only about one movie.
00:25:45:00 00:25:47:00 Peyman Maadi:
Until I thought what
00:25:47:00 00:25:50:00 if we don’t win the award,
what will happen then?
00:25:50:00 00:25:52:00 Then I thought what can
we say to these people?
00:25:52:00 00:25:54:00 Hurry up Yassi…
00:26:16:00 00:26:18:00 She’s speaking in German…
00:26:18:00 00:26:20:00 Be quite for a minute man,
 let’s listen.
00:26:20:00 00:26:22:00 You don’t understand German.
00:26:22:00 00:26:24:00 You don’t even
understand the subtitles.
00:26:31:00 00:26:34:00 A group of Iranians in the US
00:26:42:00 00:26:44:00 A group of Iranians in Canada
00:26:45:00 00:26:48:00 A group of Iranians in Germany
00:26:52:00 00:26:54:00 Sit down quickly, this is it!
00:26:57:00 00:26:59:00 We’ll get it, we will,
rest assured.
00:27:27:00 00:27:29:00 Wow…
Wow I can’t believe it.
00:28:24:00 00:28:27:00 He didn’t shake hands with her!
He didn’t.
00:28:38:00 00:28:41:00 Greetings to the good
people of my homeland.
00:28:42:00 00:28:45:00 He spoke in Farsi…
my dear…
00:29:19:00 00:29:20:00 He’s crying.
00:29:33:00 00:29:34:00 Cool… cool…
00:29:34:00 00:29:36:00 He won the award…
00:30:40:00 00:30:41:00 The next day,
00:30:41:00 00:30:43:00 all the papers were
covering the Oscar news
00:30:43:00 00:30:45:00 and people were sending
congratulatory texts.
00:30:45:00 00:30:50:00 Many people were sending
congratulatory texts to each other.
00:30:50:00 00:30:55:00 Some were distributing
pastry in the streets.
00:30:55:00 00:30:58:00 Some people had
decorated their cars!
00:30:58:00 00:30:59:00 Babak Karimi
(playing the role of the judge):
00:30:59:00 00:31:01:00 Something special thing
happened to this film.
00:31:01:00 00:31:07:00 Imagine everyone watching
a football match
00:31:07:00 00:31:10:00 and the play is taking place in the field.
00:31:10:00 00:31:11:00 Suddenly
00:31:11:00 00:31:17:00 the ball is kicked towards
the spectators who keep the ball.
00:31:17:00 00:31:23:00 The game stops and the play takes
place among the spectators.
00:31:23:00 00:31:26:00 From a point on the film
belonged to the people.
00:31:26:00 00:31:27:00 I was delighted.
00:31:27:00 00:31:31:00 I cried it is as if I had
won the award myself!
00:31:31:00 00:31:34:00 It was really great.
Al last an Iranian was able to.
00:31:34:00 00:31:37:00 It gave a special energy to all Iranians.
00:31:37:00 00:31:39:00 Everyone was awake,
like when they are awake early
00:31:39:00 00:31:41:00  in the morning when the
Iranian year changes,
00:31:41:00 00:31:43:00 when people call each other at that
00:31:43:00 00:31:45:00 exact moment and
congratulate each other.
00:31:45:00 00:31:48:00 The network was busy and you
couldn’t even send texts.
00:31:48:00 00:31:51:00 I get goose bumps when I talk.
00:31:51:00 00:31:53:00 It was really a national
honor, it was an honor…
00:31:53:00 00:31:55:00 It brings tears to the eyes.
00:31:55:00 00:31:58:00 Everyone at our company
was served pastry.
00:31:58:00 00:32:00:00 He went and got the award,
00:32:00:00 00:32:05:00 which was a positive point
for the Iranian nation.
00:32:05:00 00:32:07:00 The film that received the Ocsar,
00:32:07:00 00:32:11:00 Farhad… Simin’s Separation
from I don’t know who…
00:32:11:00 00:32:13:00 the film that received
this thing in Europe…
00:32:13:00 00:32:15:00 yeah, I heard about it.
00:32:15:00 00:32:17:00 Yeah, the man got it,
I liked it, I was so happy.
00:32:17:00 00:32:21:00 I was watching it on the TV
00:32:21:00 00:32:23:00 when he was receiving
the award on the stage.
00:32:23:00 00:32:27:00 It’s an honor for our country,
 for the Iranians.
00:32:27:00 00:32:28:00 I told my friends
00:32:28:00 00:32:30:00 that I have been proud to be
an Iranian 3 times in my life.
00:32:31:00 00:32:33:00 when Khodadad Azizi scored a goal when
we were playing vs. the Australians
00:32:33:00 00:32:35:00 and the third time when we
received the academy award.
00:32:35:00 00:32:38:00 We went to see what the
experts thought about it.
00:32:38:00 00:32:39:00 Bahman Farmanara (Filmmaker):
00:32:39:00 00:32:43:00 The good thing about Asghar is that
he was able to get a permit here;
00:32:43:00 00:32:48:00 he made his film and was able
to screen it and gain billions.
00:32:48:00 00:32:51:00 Even though he had no support
when the film was being screened,
00:32:51:00 00:32:57:00 and it’s all because the
people supported the movie
00:32:57:00 00:33:01:00 and then the world joined
the Iranian people.
00:33:01:00 00:33:05:00 It’s because when you 100%
become a national figure,
00:33:05:00 00:33:07:00 then you turn into an
international one.
00:33:07:00 00:33:09:00 Nasser Fakouhi (Sociologist):
00:33:09:00 00:33:13:00 The amount of happiness in
Iran was much more than
00:33:13:00 00:33:21:00 when a French movie or a Brazilian
movie would receive an Oscar.
00:33:21:00 00:33:30:00 This shows the need of a people
who want their identity or
00:33:31:00 00:33:39:00  prestige to be
acknowledged by others.
00:33:39:00 00:33:41:00 Abbas Abdi
(Journalist & Political Analyst):
00:33:41:00 00:33:45:00 The importance of the Oscar is
that it is an American award,
00:33:45:00 00:33:51:00 at a time when there is a tension
between Iran and America,
00:33:51:00 00:33:55:00 a tension at its highest
peak even more than
00:33:55:00 00:33:59:00 the beginning of the Revolution.
00:33:59:00 00:34:03:00 Therefore when such
an event takes place,
00:34:03:00 00:34:07:00 knowledge is formed between the
two societies from culture
00:34:07:00 00:34:10:00 which as a rule can help with
the reduction of this tension.
00:34:10:00 00:34:12:00 Saeed Aghighi (Cinema Critic):
00:34:12:00 00:34:17:00 This film basically presents a new
social portrait of Iran to the world
00:34:17:00 00:34:19:00 and to the Iranian society.
00:34:19:00 00:34:22:00 Imagine years ago when
Samira Makhmalbaf’s film
00:34:22:00 00:34:26:00 The Blackboard was displayed
in foreign country and
00:34:26:00 00:34:29:00 the most famous critic
called “A Portrait of Iran”
00:34:29:00 00:34:31:00 was written about it,
00:34:32:00 00:34:38:00 whereas this film had no signs
of the urban life in Iran in it.
00:34:38:00 00:34:44:00 A generation was depicted
that was basically not seen,
00:34:44:00 00:34:47:00 not present in the
movies and not heard of.
00:34:48:00 00:34:57:00 The middle-class of Iran who has
complicated concerns for life
00:34:57:00 00:34:59:00 and tries to fend for itself .
00:34:59:00 00:35:01:00 And we had another
reason to be happy.
00:35:01:00 00:35:05:00 When I saw how he talked about
00:35:05:00 00:35:08:00 the Iranians being peace
lovers I was really happy.
00:35:08:00 00:35:12:00 I couldn’t sit on the couch and
was just jumping up and down.
00:35:12:00 00:35:13:00 He was really great.
00:35:13:00 00:35:18:00 He informed the audience that
00:35:18:00 00:35:21:00 the Iranians are not after guns,
00:35:21:00 00:35:24:00 tanks and shrapnel and we
can talk about other stuff
00:35:24:00 00:35:27:00 but unfortunately we don’t have
a media for expressing them.
00:35:27:00 00:35:29:00 It was as if he was representing
the whole nation meaning
00:35:29:00 00:35:31:00 that we are not warmongers,
00:35:32:00 00:35:35:00 the people who say that
we are terrorists.
00:35:35:00 00:35:36:00 Kiumars Pourahmad (Filmmaker):
00:35:36:00 00:35:42:00 He had two little golden opportunities
at the Golden Globe and the Oscar
00:35:42:00 00:35:46:00 and he turned both of them into
two little golden opportunities
00:35:46:00 00:35:49:00 for the people of Iran.
00:35:49:00 00:35:51:00 Rakhshan Bani-Etemad
(Filmmaker):
00:35:51:00 00:35:52:00 In my opinion,
00:35:52:00 00:35:56:00 we wouldn’t have been able
to send the peace message
00:35:56:00 00:36:04:00 that Farhadi sent out to the world
from that podium from the UN podium.
00:36:04:00 00:36:08:00 Of course some people expected
Farhadi to express other things.
00:36:08:00 00:36:11:00 But if it were me I would
have criticized a bit more.
00:36:11:00 00:36:13:00 Farhadi was very stiff.
00:36:13:00 00:36:15:00 I never expected Farhadi’s
attitude to be that way.
00:36:15:00 00:36:18:00 I wish he was more relaxed,
00:36:18:00 00:36:20:00 it was as if he was under pressure.
00:36:20:00 00:36:21:00 Dr. Sadegh Ziba Kalam
00:36:21:00 00:36:23:00 (Political Analyst and Faculty
Member of the University of Tehran):
00:36:23:00 00:36:29:00 I think that he had said to
himself what I should say
00:36:29:00 00:36:32:00 if I do win the Oscar Award.
00:36:32:00 00:36:37:00 I should say something
that is not too cliché,
00:36:37:00 00:36:41:00 something that when I return to Iran
they wouldn’t arrest me for it.
00:36:42:00 00:36:45:00 I should say something to
be able to return to Iran.
00:36:45:00 00:36:49:00 At the same time it shouldn’t be
something to turn the people off,
00:36:49:00 00:36:52:00 the people who are expressing
their feelings for me.
00:36:52:00 00:36:54:00 Therefore I should say something,
00:36:54:00 00:36:59:00 I should say that violence
is not acceptable in Iran,
00:36:59:00 00:37:01:00 not everyone is after violence,
00:37:01:00 00:37:04:00 that Iran has a rich culture,
00:37:04:00 00:37:11:00 things that would express
a part in each of us.
00:37:11:00 00:37:14:00 I think that
00:37:14:00 00:37:16:00 if this was his own idea or
00:37:16:00 00:37:18:00 others had told him what to say,
00:37:18:00 00:37:20:00 it was very rational.
00:37:20:00 00:37:24:00 Mr. Farhadi how come you said that
the Iranians are peace loving people?
00:37:24:00 00:37:27:00 When I went on different trips
to various parts of the world
00:37:27:00 00:37:29:00 for A Separation,
00:37:29:00 00:37:39:00 I felt that the idea of a war with
Iran was serious and dangerous.
00:37:39:00 00:37:45:00 The questions that were asked
in the interviews always
00:37:45:00 00:37:51:00  lead to what my opinion
was on the future,
00:37:51:00 00:37:55:00 would the war break out.
00:37:55:00 00:37:57:00 I felt that this issue is very serious
00:37:57:00 00:38:02:00  and the Iranian
and the foreign politicians
00:38:02:00 00:38:05:00 were playing the tug of war,
00:38:05:00 00:38:09:00 each pulling the rope
toward themselves.
00:38:09:00 00:38:11:00 The people’s opinion
00:38:11:00 00:38:17:00 that they do not want war was
not taken into consideration.
00:38:17:00 00:38:22:00 The Fars News Agency reflected
Farhadi’s speech this way:
00:38:22:00 00:38:24:00 Despite the enmity of the West,
00:38:24:00 00:38:29:00 the people of Iran attach value to the
nuclear program for all cultures.
00:38:29:00 00:38:31:00 When Mr. Farhadi was questioned
00:38:31:00 00:38:33:00  in the press conference after
the Oscar ceremony about
00:38:33:00 00:38:35:00 what he thought the reaction
of the Iranian government
00:38:35:00 00:38:37:00 would be to his award,
he said that
00:38:37:00 00:38:40:00 the Iranian government
was not a uniform government.
00:38:40:00 00:38:43:00 The things that happened
for this film before,
00:38:43:00 00:38:50:00  some were really against
and some were happy for the film.
00:38:50:00 00:38:53:00 Some were quite,
some were happy;
00:38:53:00 00:38:56:00 there are different kinds of people
in the establishment.
00:38:56:00 00:38:59:00 Well according to
Mr. Farhadi’s sayings
00:38:59:00 00:39:02:00 we divide the reactions
into 3 categories:
00:39:02:00 00:39:04:00 the upset ones
00:39:04:00 00:39:05:00 the quiet ones
00:39:05:00 00:39:06:00 the happy ones.
00:39:06:00 00:39:10:00 Kayhan Newspaper was
among the upset ones.
00:39:10:00 00:39:13:00 This paper was writing for
some time in a column called
00:39:13:00 00:39:15:00 “A Separation: Farhadi
and the Iranian People”,
00:39:15:00 00:39:19:00 criticizing the Academy
Award and Farhadi.
00:39:19:00 00:39:22:00 The second category is the quiet ones.
00:39:22:00 00:39:25:00 Many people believe that the
IRIB belonged to this category
00:39:25:00 00:39:28:00  but we consider the IRIB among those
who talked little of this event.
00:39:28:00 00:39:30:00 Because it covered the event
in its early morning news
00:39:30:00 00:39:32:00 but said nothing about it
00:39:32:00 00:39:34:00  at the other times when many
viewers were watching the news.
00:39:34:00 00:39:39:00 The Iranian film A Separation
won the Oscar award.
00:39:39:00 00:39:40:00 At this ceremony
00:39:40:00 00:39:44:00 A Separation won the Best
Foreign Language Film
00:39:44:00 00:39:46:00 defeating a film from
the Zionist regime.
00:39:46:00 00:39:50:00 And unfortunately people
hadn’t seen anything.
00:39:50:00 00:39:55:00 Unfortunately we didn’t
hear anything about him
00:39:55:00 00:39:58:00 in the IRIB, this was an honor.
00:39:58:00 00:40:01:00 I saw it on the satellite TV channel,
00:40:02:00 00:40:04:00 it was treated indifferently here.
00:40:04:00 00:40:06:00 Newspapers, the TV, not all!
00:40:06:00 00:40:09:00 The people turned into a media
whereas the media did nothing.
00:40:09:00 00:40:11:00 The third category is the happy ones.
00:40:11:00 00:40:14:00 Mr. Shamaghdari said in his
congratulatory message:
00:40:14:00 00:40:18:00 “The American judgment bowed
to the Iranian culture
00:40:18:00 00:40:21:00 and the voters at the Oscar Academy
00:40:21:00 00:40:23:00 showed different reactions
despite the fact
00:40:23:00 00:40:28:00 that the Zionists are
lobbying for war.
00:40:28:00 00:40:32:00 This crack is the beginning of
the collapse of the Israeli
00:40:32:00 00:40:35:00 influence in the US.”
00:40:35:00 00:40:38:00 We will now listen to what Mr.
Sadjadpour had to say…
00:40:38:00 00:40:39:00 In practice everyone saw
00:40:39:00 00:40:42:00 that the cinematic management
supported the film
00:40:42:00 00:40:45:00 at the local and foreign film festivals.
00:40:45:00 00:40:46:00 Despite the reluctancy
00:40:46:00 00:40:50:00 we introduced the film to
the Oscar and supported it.
00:40:50:00 00:40:53:00 The last few days before the ceremony
00:40:53:00 00:40:57:00 we did our best so that the film
would not be denied its rights.
00:40:57:00 00:40:59:00 We threatened them,
 I threatened them myself.
00:40:59:00 00:41:03:00 I told them that if the film doesn’t
receive an award we will disclose,
00:41:03:00 00:41:04:00 they will be disgraced,
00:41:04:00 00:41:07:00 we will show that they are
unjust and things like that.
00:41:07:00 00:41:09:00 We should mention in parenthesis
00:41:09:00 00:41:12:00 that some time later
Mr. Shamaghdari said:
00:41:12:00 00:41:16:00 “The President ordered me to
globalize the Iranian Cinema
00:41:16:00 00:41:19:00 and we lobbied and got the Oscar!”
00:41:19:00 00:41:21:00 And we must mention
00:41:21:00 00:41:25:00 that the following year the Ministry
of Culture and Islamic Guidance
00:41:25:00 00:41:29:00 boycotted the Oscar over an
insulting film on Prophet Mohammad.
00:41:29:00 00:41:31:00 The days that followed the Oscar,
00:41:31:00 00:41:34:00 there was a debate whether Farhadi
would come back to Iran or not.
00:41:34:00 00:41:36:00 There was a headline
00:41:36:00 00:41:39:00 that he had immigrated to
France with his family
00:41:39:00 00:41:42:00 and they were having fun
and things like this.
00:41:42:00 00:41:44:00 He’ll come back,
00:41:44:00 00:41:46:00 if I were him I would come back.
00:41:46:00 00:41:47:00 I don’t think
00:41:47:00 00:41:50:00 that the situation is in his favor
for him to come back to Iran.
00:41:50:00 00:41:52:00 I think that he’ll come back.
00:41:52:00 00:41:59:00 No-one can tell whether he will come
back or not but hopefully he will.
00:41:59:00 00:42:03:00 Even though Farhadi had not talked
about the date of his return to Iran
00:42:03:00 00:42:05:00 but on Friday 09 March,
00:42:05:00 00:42:07:00 it was all over the internet
00:42:07:00 00:42:11:00 that Farhadi would return
to Iran on that night.
00:42:11:00 00:42:15:00 Mr. Farhadi how come you decided
to return to Iran unannounced?
00:42:15:00 00:42:17:00 To be honest,
00:42:17:00 00:42:21:00 the reason was that 
I didn’t want the people
00:42:21:00 00:42:26:00 who had hindered 
the production process of my films
00:42:26:00 00:42:31:00 and other filmmakers over the years
knowingly or unknowingly to come
00:42:31:00 00:42:37:00 and change things to their liking,
00:42:37:00 00:42:40:00 this was not agreeable for me.
00:42:41:00 00:42:43:00 We went to the airport
00:42:43:00 00:42:47:00 and when we got there we didn’t
expect to see a big crowd.
00:42:53:00 00:42:57:00 This guy who is the leader of the
football fans in the stadiums
00:42:57:00 00:43:01:00 had also come to cheer for
Farhadi in his own way.
00:43:08:00 00:43:12:00 The pilot asked me to
join him in the cockpit.
00:43:12:00 00:43:14:00 We were talking to each
other during the flight
00:43:14:00 00:43:16:00 until we entered the
Iranian air space.
00:43:16:00 00:43:19:00 They contacted him
from the control tower
00:43:19:00 00:43:23:00 and asked him whether
I was on the flight.
00:43:23:00 00:43:26:00 He told them that I was
there sitting next to him.
00:43:26:00 00:43:28:00 They told him
00:43:28:00 00:43:32:00 that a big crowd was at the
airport to welcome me
00:43:32:00 00:43:36:00 and asked me to behave in a way
00:43:36:00 00:43:39:00 so that the airport
would be kept in order.
00:43:39:00 00:43:42:00 I understood what they meant
00:43:42:00 00:43:46:00 and I realized that people had
found out about my return
00:43:46:00 00:43:48:00 even though no-one was
informed about it.
00:43:48:00 00:43:50:00 Apparently the news
was on the internet
00:43:50:00 00:43:53:00 and people and the journalists
were there to greet me.
00:43:53:00 00:43:58:00 It was around 2 in the morning
when Asghar Farhadi arrived.
00:44:03:00 00:44:08:00 Unfortunately the authorities
had no plans for greeting him!
00:44:29:00 00:44:32:00 The authorities who
were there to greet him
00:44:32:00 00:44:34:00 on behalf of the Ministry of
Culture and Islamic Guidance
00:44:34:00 00:44:36:00 took him to the VIP lounge.
00:44:38:00 00:44:41:00 They told the reporters
and the photographers
00:44:41:00 00:44:44:00 to go to the first floor
and wait for him.
00:44:45:00 00:44:51:00 People are here without being
informed by the official media.
00:44:55:00 00:44:58:00 I said now that the people are here
00:44:58:00 00:45:00:00 we should go through the place
where they are waiting.
00:45:00:00 00:45:02:00 I thought that no-one…
00:45:17:00 00:45:21:00 Farhadi welcome, 
Farhadi welcome!
00:45:47:00 00:45:49:00 I don’t know why they
insisted that night
00:45:49:00 00:45:54:00 that I should get out of the
airport as soon as possible.
00:45:54:00 00:45:58:00 People had come to the airport
with a lot of trouble
00:45:58:00 00:46:02:00 and I was not in a position
to make decisions there.
00:46:02:00 00:46:04:00 We got into a car
00:46:04:00 00:46:09:00 and drove towards Tehran and the
people were still waiting for me.
00:46:09:00 00:46:11:00 On the way I thought to myself
00:46:11:00 00:46:14:00  that this will upset the people
00:46:14:00 00:46:19:00 who had come to express their
kindness at that time of the night.
00:46:19:00 00:46:23:00 But I hadn’t seen them or had
passed through very quickly.
00:46:23:00 00:46:27:00 I asked the driver to go back.
I told him to go back to the airport.
00:46:27:00 00:46:29:00 He told me that they had
asked him to take me away
00:46:29:00 00:46:31:00 but I said to him to turn around
because it was not right.
00:46:32:00 00:46:34:00 We talked on the phone with
the authorities for a while.
00:46:34:00 00:46:37:00 I insisted that if they
were unwilling to go back
00:46:37:00 00:46:41:00 I would go back myself,
and then we returned and…
00:47:02:00 00:47:05:00 Mr. Farhadi Iran is proud of you!
00:47:07:00 00:47:11:00 In the honor of the
peace loving Iranians!
00:47:33:00 00:47:37:00 The people of Iran consider you
the representative of peace.
00:47:37:00 00:47:41:00 I just consider myself a
filmmaker, I’m just a filmmaker.
00:47:41:00 00:47:46:00 About what others are saying, 
I just consider myself a filmmaker.
00:47:49:00 00:47:52:00 A round of applaud for Asghar!
00:48:06:00 00:48:09:00 Viva, thank you, thank you.
00:48:29:00 00:48:33:00 This is the Cinema Museum of Iran.
00:48:41:00 00:48:42:00 Like a house,
00:48:42:00 00:48:46:00 this museum has gathered all the
souvenirs of the Iranian Cinema
00:48:46:00 00:48:48:00 over the past hundred years.
00:48:52:00 00:48:57:00 This place if full of various awards.
00:49:08:00 00:49:13:00 One day the Oscar for A Separation
will come to this place
00:49:13:00 00:49:16:00 and will sit on one of these shelves.
00:49:20:00 00:49:23:00 There are no other reputable awards
00:49:23:00 00:49:27:00  that the Iranian Cinema
has not achieved.
00:49:38:00 00:49:45:00 Behind each and every award there’s a
story which can be turned into a film.
00:49:46:00 00:49:50:00 This film was the story
of one of these awards,
00:49:50:00 00:49:54:00  which turned into a memorable memory.