A Separation - Characters & Cast

Nader's primary motivation is to uphold his duty to his ailing father and maintain his sense of honor. He fights the accusations against him not just to avoid prison, but to prove he is in the right. His actions are driven by a mix of familial love, pride, and a belief that the principles of his middle-class world should prevail.

Nader begins as a seemingly reasonable man burdened by responsibility. His defining trait is a stubborn pride and a belief in his own righteousness. As the conflict escalates, his refusal to compromise and his willingness to lie to protect himself reveal deep character flaws. His arc is not one of transformation but of revelation; the crisis exposes the moral compromises he is willing to make, which ultimately damages his relationship with his daughter, Termeh.

Simin's core motivation is to provide a better future for her daughter, Termeh, which she believes is not possible in Iran. This propels her to seek a divorce and drives all of her initial actions. Even when she returns, her motivation is to protect her family, particularly her daughter, from the consequences of Nader's actions.

Simin initiates the entire plot with her desire to leave Iran. Though she physically separates from the main conflict for a portion of the film, she is drawn back in to help Nader and Termeh. Her arc shows a woman caught between her desire for a different future and her lingering familial obligations. She is pragmatic, attempting to solve the crisis with a financial settlement, but ultimately finds herself powerless to fix the deeper moral and emotional fractures.

Razieh is motivated by two powerful, often conflicting, forces: her family's desperate need for money and her profound religious convictions. She takes the job to help her indebted husband, but her actions are constantly checked by her fear of sin. This internal conflict defines her character and drives her ultimate, pivotal decision.

Razieh is introduced as a timid, deeply religious woman forced by economic desperation into a compromising situation. Her arc is a tragic journey through fear, guilt, and moral crisis. Pressured by her volatile husband and her own dire circumstances, she participates in a lie. However, her unwavering religious faith provides a moral boundary she cannot cross, leading to her confession and the story's climax. She represents the struggle of faith in the face of immense hardship.

Hodjat is motivated by a desperate need to reclaim his honor and secure justice for his family, specifically for the loss of his unborn child. He feels cheated by the system and belittled by Nader's higher social status. He fights aggressively for financial compensation, which represents not just money, but a form of retribution and validation.

Hodjat is presented as an aggressive, hot-tempered man, humiliated by his unemployment and debts. He serves as the primary antagonist, physically and verbally threatening Nader. However, his arc reveals deeper layers. His rage is rooted in a sense of injustice and the feeling that his social standing denies him respect. In the final scene, his violent outburst turns inward—he hits himself in frustration—showing that his anger is not just at Nader, but at his own powerlessness and his wife's deception.

Termeh's primary motivation is a desperate desire for stability and truth. She loves both her parents and initially tries to mediate. As the situation worsens, her motivation shifts to protecting her father, even if it means compromising her own integrity. She is driven by love and loyalty, but is increasingly weighed down by the moral complexities she is forced to witness.

Termeh begins as a quiet, observant child. Her arc is a painful coming-of-age story where she is forced to confront the moral failings of her parents. She becomes the film's moral center, quietly judging their actions and lies. Her decision to lie in court to protect her father is a pivotal moment, marking a loss of innocence. The film ends with her facing an impossible choice, symbolizing the burden of her parents' conflict now resting entirely on her shoulders.