A Separation

Name: A Separation
Released: 2011
Cast: Leila Hatami, Payman Maadi, Sareh Bayat, Sarina Farhadi, Shahab Hosseini

2011 · Movie · PG-13

IMDB TMDB

Research evidenceResearch evidence — scores and sourced research

Scored entertainment-first on WhatSphere's content-balance model 3

Its director stated on the record that "i'm not trying to send any sort of message, Bergman says that sending messages is for telegram, I'd rather they left the cinema with questions, I believe that…" 1. Its narrative-universality assessment registers 8 of 10 2. Taken together, the content-balance model places it entertainment-first at 9 of 100 3. Relative to the expected cast make-up for its production origin, on-screen representation registers above the baseline for Middle Eastern and below it for White and Black 4.

The receipts — every claim above is sourced

1
Creator statementdirector: "I'm not trying to send any sort of message. Bergman says that sending messages is for telegram. I'd rather they left the cinema with questions. I believe that the world today needs more questions tha…"Time Out Chicago interview with Asghar Farhadi, Toronto International Film Festival 2011 source ↗
2
Narrative universalityNarrative universality 8 of 10; identity centrality incidental.WhatSphere content assessment. Narrative universality 8/10 -> advocacy signal 22
3
Content balanceAdvocacy 9 of 100, tier entertainment-first.WhatSphere content-balance model, score_version 1. Narrative universality 8/10 -> advocacy signal 22
4
RepresentationRepresentation vs production-origin baseline: Middle Eastern 100, White 2, Black 31.WhatSphere representation model, score_version 1

WhatSphere presents the sourced record; it does not cast the judgement. Every statement above is drawn from a stored, sourced row — shown beside it — and nothing is asserted beyond what those receipts support.

Data updated May 25, 2026Scored, pending verification.Think a score is wrong? Submit a correction.

Synopsis

A married couple are faced with a difficult decision - to improve the life of their child by moving to another country or to stay in Iran and look after a deteriorating parent who has Alzheimer's disease.