The Past

Berenice Bejo (Oscar nominee for The Artist) took Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival for her portrayal of Marie, a woman who has invited her long absent husband Ahmad (Ali Mosaffa) to her home so that they can finalize their divorce. Marie is in a new relationship with Samir (Tahar Rahim of A Prophet), whose wife lies in a coma from mysterious circumstances. Some compelling acting makes up for writer-director Asghar Farhadi's (A Separation) sometimes longwinded storytelling (the plot contains a bunch of unnecessary twists and a few shocks that aren't all that shocking). When the movie works, it fires on all cylinders, especially when Mosaffa is acting across from the child actors in this film. Bejo has some powerhouse scenes that make it quite understandable that she has received some nice accolades. The film's final image and use of music is the best thing in the movie.