Film Review: "The Past" ("Le Passé", گذشته‎) (2013).

From the director of A Separation comes The Past (Le Passé, گذشته‎ ). This French–Italian–Iranian drama film written and directed by Iranian director Asghar Farhadi. An Iranian man returns to Paris for his divorce hearing. However, while mending his relationship with his stepchildren, he finds himself getting entangled in unexpected events.

Farhadi wrote the script in Persian and then lived in France for two years in order to better understand the rhythms of the French language so that he would be able to more accurately judge the translation of his script and the performance of his actors. By early October 2012, Bérénice Bejo, Tahar Rahim, Ali Mosaffa, Pauline Burlet, and Sabrina Ouazani were cast. Marion Cotillard was originally cast in the lead role, but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. When the shootings began in September 2012, her film Rust and Bone was selected to participate in many film festivals and Cotillard had to travel and promote it. Bejo replaced her. During Bejo's audition, Farhadi had her fill her cheeks with cotton and put makeup on because he was looking for someone with a round face to better express doubt and thought Bejo's face was too oval. Mosaffa, an Iranian native, learned French two months before filming began with the help of his wife, Leila Hatami. Burlet was chosen by Farhadi for the role of Lucie because of her similarity with Cotillard. At the same time, principal photography commenced, and wrapped in early January 2013. Filming took place in Paris, France. Farhadi insisted on a two month rehearsal period beforehand. As Farhadi is not a native French speaker, he had to direct the film through a translator.

The film stars Bejo, Rahim, Mosaffa, Burlet, and Ouazani. The acting's uniformly strong, always at the service of a somewhat knotty story.

Atmospheric and evocative, It's not the best of Farhadi, but even a lesser Farhadi is better than most films. Farhadi is a master of the drama, his gifts are a perfect fit for a family drama. A film of heart-wrenching moments that really lands a telling emotional bow. Farhadi is an excellent screenwriter and an impressive handler of actors, and the film definitely adds up to more than the sum of its parts. A great finish could have save an otherwise ho-hum film, just as a flat ending can undo an otherwise strong one. Luckily, the film is an example of neither. It's involving and entertaining for everybody involved. Its drama is intense, yet subtle, refraining from being over-the-top, but still delivering a good wallop. Though, a much better film would have drawn out the class distinctions that are at the heart of this story. Nonetheless, there is something about a story which peels back the layers so gently that really gets under the skin and when it's the secrets and lies of everybody involved - this is even more delectable. Farhadi demonstrates once again human nature is the greatest puzzle of all.

Simon says The Past (Le Passé, گذشته‎) receives:

Also, see my review for A Separation (جدایی نادر از سیمین‎).