Speech About Iranian Film That Won Oscar Separation

¶ … Separation

Attention getting material/story: The Iranian film a Separation won the 2012 Oscar for best foreign language movie. The film addresses a range of issues, including conflicting loyalties and competing value systems.

Thematic statement: The choice of A Separation as best foreign-language film in the Academy Awards was a smart one. The film offers excellent insight into the universal human condition, addressing issues that affect all people and not just Iranians. Yet the selection of A Separation was important because it symbolizes the need for peace and dialogue between the United States and Iran.

Preview of the speech: First, I will talk about the movie itself, offering a brief summary of the characters and events. Second, I will talk about the ethical issues that are raised in the film. Third, I will discuss the reasons why the Academy might have selected A Separation as best foreign-language film, and also why it was nominated for best original screenplay.

IV. Establish credibility: I establish credibility because I have seen the film.

B. Body

I. First, I will discuss the story of A Separation. A man and a woman (husband and wife) are at an impasse. The family has been granted an exit visa, which is difficult to obtain. If they do not use the exit visa now, it will expire and they may never be able to get another one. The woman wants to use the exit visa primarily so that their daughter Termeh can have better opportunities and prospects for the future. The man refuses to leave, because his elderly father has Alzheimer's and needs constant care. Because they cannot agree on what to do, they file for a separation and divorce.

II. Second, I will discuss the ethical issues that A Separation raises. The woman wants her daughter to attend a good school in have a wealth of opportunities available to her that she would not have in Iran. The mother's concern is mainly about her daughter. The father's concern is mainly his father. The audience understands the conflicting loyalties; it would be unethical to leave an ailing parent. At the same time, it is unethical to deny a child all the opportunities available to her. The central conflict in the film is one that remains ultimately unresolved, as the film ends without the audience knowing which parent the daughter chooses to be with.

III. Third, I will discuss reasons why the Academy selected A Separation. For one, the film does not overtly address the political oppression in Iran. The filmmakers do a great job making veiled hints and allusions to political oppression without coming right out and talking about it. It is for this reason that the screenplay is very well-written and was nominated for best screenplay. The Academy appreciated the way the ethical issues were constructed and presented in ways that show the universality of the human experience. The audience learns as much about themselves and their own loyalties as about Persian culture. However, I believe the Academy also selected A Separation because it wanted to reach out to the Iranian people and show solidarity. The themes addressed in the film are universal. Therefore, it does not matter that there are political issues at stake or not.