"The Separation" Oscar Award

I had seen "The Separation " several months ago in Tehran. During the screening term the theaters in Tehran and other cities were so crowded that people had to queue for hours before they could purchase a ticket. At the same time a political film was screened with the support of the government aimed at mocking the opposition. The government tried to downplay the overwhelming response to the independent cinema represented by "The Separation". This smoothly flowing  film which centers on the theme of family ties and realities in Iran, points to the role of a "lie" in taking these families to the verge of disintegration. Asghar Farhadi, the Director has a strong talent in suspense, the viewer does not understand until the very end why the events occurred in such a manner.  "The Separation" won several awards in national competitions and the Fajr Festival. Later, the film was welcomed in several international film festivals, one of the most important of which was the Golden Globe. Now, a few nights ago Farhadi won the Oscar Award for Best Foreign Film at the 84th annual Academy Awards, becoming the first Iranian director to receive this award. In his acceptance speech Farhadi  proudly dedicated his award to the Iranian Nation.
He boldly noted :
At this time, many Iranians all over the world are watching us and I imagine them to be very happy. They are happy not just because of an important award or a film or filmmaker, but because at the time when talk of war, intimidation, and aggression is exchanged between politicians, the name of their country Iran is spoken here through her glorious culture, a rich and ancient culture that has been hidden under the heavy dust of politics. I proudly offer this award to the people of my country, a people who respect all cultures and civilizations and despise hostility and resentment.


This award became a beacon of hope for many people in difficult time the Iranian society is now facing.
Some analysts have indicated that Farhadi's message was a rebuke to war on all sides. In a world stage where Iran is repeatedly pressured and threatened to relinquish its peaceful nuclear energy plans, this Oscar award is an indication that the cinema industry and their leaders do not align themselves with the politicians on such issues.

The Obama Season

There has been extensive coverage and much attention on the American elections in Iranian media over the past week. Even while the Iranian President had initially predicted that Obama would not be allowed to become President, he congratulated the President -elect in a message impressing many Iranians and others alike. Although many Iranians and most political groups reformist and principalist are hopeful that President Obama will bring a change in American foreign policy , many are yet skeptical and feel that he may not be able to keep his promises. The question that many put forward is how profound and genuine is the 'change' that Obama will bring about in the directions that the Administration has been taking for the past years. Will he stand firm to change the domineering and militaristic policies America has pursuing for the past decades? Will he keep the spirit of multilateralism that he professed in his famous Berlin speech or will he succumb to the imperial policies of the conservative elements in Washington? There are many historical and political reasons for Iranians to be cautious in expressing their content for seeing a new President after Bush in the White House. Can President -elect Obama gain their trust and confidence after more that three decades of a " tall wall of mistrust"? It remains to be seen .