Exploring 'A Separation' Film: Communication Research & Focus Groups

This report delves into an analysis of the Oscar-nominated film 'A Separation' through the lens of communication research methods. It identifies key themes such as marriage, aspiration, elderly parenthood, gender roles, and class dynamics within Iranian society. The research incorporates focus group discussions with Iranian immigrants to explore their perceptions of these themes, particularly the experiences of living in a theocratic society and the plight of women. The report also examines the politics of class structure and its impact on women's lives, highlighting the differing perspectives between male and female participants regarding the film's characters and their struggles. Ultimately, the study underscores the influence of gender, class, religion, nation, and generational differences on individual interpretations of the film and its underlying messages.

Running head: : COMMUNICATION RESEARCH METHODS ON ‘A SEPERATION’
COMMUNICATION RESEARCH METHODS ON ‘A SEPARATION’
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COMMUNICATION RESEARCH METHODS ON ‘A SEPARATION’
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
The most interesting themes addressed in the film? What emerges as the most fascinating
issue calling for further discussion and analysis? Does it relate to gender, generations, age,
marriage/divorce, class or something else?................................................................................2
Research questions.....................................................................................................................4
Focus group participants: When, where, how, and with whom are you going to conduct
interviews? Start scheduling, and be prepared for setbacks.......................................................4
Interview design, findings from the interview and interesting parts of the interview...............5
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................5
Reference....................................................................................................................................6

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COMMUNICATION RESEARCH METHODS ON ‘A SEPARATION’
Introduction
This paper is concerned with the discussion of the Oscar-nominated movie ‘A
Separation’ through critically analyzing the movie and designing an interview based on the
movie and discussion of the findings of the research.
The most interesting themes addressed in the film? What emerges as the
most fascinating issue calling for further discussion and analysis? Does it
relate to gender, generations, age, marriage/divorce, class or something
else?
Directed and written by Asghar Farhadi ‘A Separation’ is a poignant Iran film that lingers
on the themes of marriage, aspiration, elderly parenthood, assertion of women in a patriarchal
society and the male entitlement that continues to dictate the lives of women. Despite the
rigid censorship in the country, A Separation manages to struck a chord with the movie
viewers and appeals to the audience about the trials and tribulations of human life (A
Separation Movie Review & Film Summary (2012). The movie set in the backdrop of the
Islamic society and brings out the problem with the austere interpretation of the Islamic law.
The movie does not attempt to criticize the Islamic law but highlight the issues that may
emerge with the rigid applications of the Islamic law. It is interesting to note that laws are
grounded on hypothetical situations that have not taken place. If laws were substituted by
principles, they would be more appropriate to the human nature. The protagonists in the
movie are tied up in their won ideologies, conflicts and value-systems (‘A Separation,’ 2012).
Nader and Simin are shown married to each other. Simin wants to move abroad predicting a
better future of her daughter; however, Nader wants to stay back in Iran as he wants to take
care of his disabled father who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. to take care of his elderly
father, Nader appoints Razeih as a caregiver to look after the needs of his father who has
Alzheimer. The movie takes an interesting turn when the Razeih has an argument with Nader
over her act of tying Nader’s father and this escalating to Razeih’s miscarriage (Jelodar,
Yusof & Hashim, 2014). The movie concludes with a court hearing based on the principles of
the Islamic law. Razeih’s reaction harps on the undercurrents of the Islamic law and the
plight of women due to the complexities and austereness of the law.
Contrary to the American fantasy of Iran being a bigotic country characterized by

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COMMUNICATION RESEARCH METHODS ON ‘A SEPARATION’
paternalism and parochial values, these movies try to move away from the conventional
setting and focuses on a nation that wants to move ahead and nuanced handle the moral
challenges of life (Voorhoeve, 2012). The movie encapsulates the aftermath of fractured
relationships in a theocratic society and underscore on the politics of class and power
dynamics of gender. Simin’s decision to move abroad with the aim of further opportunities
for women underline the gender stratification, exclusionary practices against women, public
patriarchy that constricts the life choices and life chances of women (Theguardian.com,
2012). The courtroom scene is riveting as it invites the audience to experience the
convolutions that take place when there is a confluence between classes, gender, religious
values, dichotomy of tradition and modernity, and the discourse of the nation. As Simin
separates from Nader, the affective role assigned to women in a society premised on sexual
division of labour, Nader had to seek outside help of another woman to perform the affective
role of caregiving. In the movie, class and gender both becomes prominent. Razeih’s
subordinate position has pushed her to the brink of the society where she has to toil hard to
make a living for herself (Naficy, 2012). Although she is financially independent through
providing care service to Nader’s father but the nature of her job is such that has no respect in
the society. In addition, she has to keep hidden her occupational identity from her husband
who feels that women should not work in a man’s house who is not living with his wife. Iran
have witnessed a range of uprisings against the violent dictatorship. Women in Iran have
been upfront in protesting against the draconian family law and compulsory veiling of
women (Toffoletti, 2014). In Khomeini’s government, although the law of compulsory
veiling was revoked, the President was of the view that women have become slaves to
westernization and modernity that has infiltrated their psyche (New Middle Eastern
Uprisings: Gender, Class and Security Politics in Iran – Social Text, 2017). Women in Iran
fought for the self-determination of their rights. Drawing inspiration from the past generation
of strong women leaders, they continue to bequeath the legacy of liberation, emancipation
and autonomy of women. The women’s movement that emerged in Iran have injected
feminist principles to refine the movement.

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COMMUNICATION RESEARCH METHODS ON ‘A SEPARATION’
Research questions
 I would be interested to understand the perceptions of the people regarding the
experiences of living in a theocratic society.
 I would also be interested to understand the plight of women in Iranian society.
 I intend to delve into the politics of class structure and in what ways it informs the
lives of women.
Focus group participants: When, where, how, and with whom are you
going to conduct interviews? Start scheduling, and be prepared for
setbacks.
The focus group participants for the research will be a group of immigrant
Iranian women and men. The group would comprise of 6 Iranian immigrant men and
6 Iranian immigrant women. The interview will be conducted in a café so that it
allows the interviewees to remain in their comfort zone, be themselves and express
their views without any hindrance. I would seek the help of my Iranian friend in the
university and through her would reach out to the potential participants for the
research through a snowball sampling technique. I am planning to conduct the
interview in the between 18 April and 25 April. One interview might not be sufficient
and therefore, I might need to conduct two or more interviews based on the progress
of the interview. The drawback of the interview pertains to the nature of the method
of focused-group interview. In a focus group, the primary shortcoming is that one
participant might be more articulate and overpower the conversations. Some
participants might not feel comfortable in expressing their opinions in front of
strangers. Participants might be sensitive about the issues of gender, class and religion
and therefore, it may posit hindrance in eliciting data.

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COMMUNICATION RESEARCH METHODS ON ‘A SEPARATION’
Interview design, findings from the interview and interesting parts of the
interview
I am planning to deploy an unstructured interview, as it would give me
opportunity to modify and adjust the questions based on the situation and course of
the interview. The interview will address the themes of nation, religion, gender and
class. My role as a moderator of the FGD would be to ensure that all the participants
have equal opportunity to express themselves and ensure that no one interrupts the
interview process. During the course of the interview, if any conflict or argument
arises it would be my responsibility to take control of the situation. It was found that
men and women participants reacted differently to the questions. Women participants
could sympathize with the pangs and poignancies faced by Simin and Razeih.
However, most of the men in the interview were more empathic towards the pangs of
the male protagonist, Nader. Since the movie encapsulated the issue of health and
position of aged in the society, the participants were enquired about their attitude
towards the elderly. One participant (female) said that the Iranian society has stringent
restrictions especially for women and therefore, they were supportive of Simin’s
decision to move abroad for after future of her daughter.
Conclusion
The movie harps on the issue of gender, class, religion, nation and generations in the
context of Iran and in what ways it has impacted on the lives of different individuals. The
focussed group discussion revealed that women participants were empathic to the lifeworld of
female characters and male participants were empathic to the ordeals of the male character.
Therefore, underscoring on the gender perspective of the audience on the movie.

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COMMUNICATION RESEARCH METHODS ON ‘A SEPARATION’
Reference
A Separation Movie Review & Film Summary (2012) | Roger Ebert. Retrieved from
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/a-separation-2012
‘A Separation,’ (2012)| Directed by Asghar Farhadi - Review. Retrieved from
https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/30/movies/a-separation-directed-by-asghar-
farhadi-review.html
Jelodar, E. Z., Yusof, N. M., & Hashim, R. S. (2014). Muslim Women’s Memoirs: Disclosing
Violence or Reproducing Islamophobia?. Asian Social Science, 10(14), 215.
Naficy, H. (2012). A Social History of Iranian Cinema, Volume 4: The Globalizing Era,
1984–2010 (Vol. 4). Duke University Press.
New Middle Eastern Uprisings: Gender, Class and Security Politics in Iran – Social Text.
(2017), Retrieved from
https://socialtextjournal.org/new_middle_eastern_uprisings_gender_class_and_securit
y_politics_in_e
Theguardian.com. (2012). Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/jun/30/a-
separation-review
Toffoletti, K. (2014). Iranian women’s sports fandom: Gender, resistance, and identity in the
football movie Offside. Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 38(1), 75-92.
Voorhoeve, M. (Ed.). (2012). Family law in Islam: divorce, marriage and women in the
Muslim world (Vol. 4). IB Tauris.