Monday 13 October: The Past (12A)

Original title: “Le passé”
France/Iran  –  Drama, mystery  –  Year: 2013  –  Running time: 130 mins

CFC Audience feedback: Rating: ★★★★½ (4.26 from 39 responses)

  • The Past‘Excellent’: 20 votes
  • ‘Very Good’: 13 votes
  • ‘Good’: 3 votes
  • ‘Satisfactory’: 2 votes
  • ‘Poor’: 1 vote

An Iranian man, Ahmad, has deserted his French wife and two children after a breakdown, returning to his homeland. Meanwhile, his wife, Marie, starts a new relationship with Samir, owner of a nearby dry cleaning business, and they plan to move in together.  Ahmad must confront this new reality when he returns to deal with his wife’s request for a divorce. Exposing a complex web of good intentions, bad beginnings and wrong decisions, Farhadi’s first French film is a more intricate, intense drama than his previous one (A Separation) but still deals with the agony of break-ups.

Farhadi uses grace and fluidity to tell a story in which no one is quite innocent.
Paul Whittington, Irish Independent

Director: Asghar Farhadi
A Seperation (2011) / About Elly (2009) / Fireworks Wednesday (2006)

Read about this film in IMDB

CFC film notes (Jon Wisbey)
Audience feedback
Discussion forum

Further reading:
Guardian Film (Peter Bradshaw)
Time Out (Dave Calhoun)

Theatrical Trailer:

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