Separation

The family court rejected Simin's divorce petition because she failed to provide legally sufficient grounds. She cited wanting a better future for Termeh abroad, but the court did not consider this compelling enough under Iranian law to grant a divorce, especially since Nader opposed it.

Earlier scenes establish Simin's frustration with staying in Iran, hinting at how determined she was to leave.

When Razieh left to handle an urgent personal matter, Nader's father, who has Alzheimer's, wandered out into the street and was found unconscious later. He had been tied to the bed, likely by Razieh or Somayeh in a panicked attempt to restrain him when they returned.

The earlier scene where the old man wanders into traffic establishes his vulnerability and sets up this incident.

Nader suspected Razieh of theft because Simin had left money to pay movers, and when the elderly man was found unconscious, that money was missing. Nader's suspicion was amplified by his belief that Razieh had neglected his father during her absence.

The financial tension between Simin and Nader is established early when she uses her money to pay for movers.

Razieh claimed she was pregnant and that Nader knew about it because he overheard a conversation about a doctor appointment. This accusation was significant because if Nader knew and still pushed her, it could explain her miscarriage. The tutor initially testified that Nader knew, then withdrew her testimony.

Razieh's visible discomfort and need for a doctor are hinted at during her early scenes working in the apartment.

Nader admitted to Termeh that he lied about not knowing Razieh was pregnant to protect both his father and his own freedom. He feared that admitting knowledge would make him legally responsible for the miscarriage and potentially land him in prison, which would destroy everything he was trying to hold together.

Nader's priority throughout the film is caring for his father and keeping the family intact, making his lie a desperate attempt to maintain control.

Razieh alleged that Nader pushed her when she tried to return to the apartment with the old man after he had wandered off. She later confided that she had been in pain and stressed the night before due to a doctor visit, suggesting her fall may have been caused by her physical condition rather than being pushed.

The tension between Nader and Razieh escalates throughout the film, with Nader's anger becoming increasingly volatile.

Nader demanded that Razieh swear on the Qur'an that he caused her miscarriage because he wanted to force her to tell the truth under religious oath. He believed this would either prove his innocence if she refused to swear, or clear the matter if she swore truthfully. It was his ultimatum to resolve the conflicting accounts.

Religious symbolism and oath-taking appear earlier when characters discuss honor and truth.

Hodjat, Razieh's husband, displayed volatile and sometimes dangerous behavior throughout the negotiations. When Nader demanded the Qur'an oath and Razieh could not comply, Hodjat reacted with escalating anger and even resorted to self-harm in a moment of rage, showing the psychological toll the case was taking on him.

Hodjat's dangerous nature is hinted at early when Simin warns Nader about him.

Termeh lied to the judge by claiming she was the one who told Nader about Razieh's pregnancy, not Nader overhearing it. She did this to protect her father, knowing that admitting Nader knew about the pregnancy could incriminate him further in the miscarriage case. Despite her search for truth throughout the film, her loyalty to her father won out.

Termeh's internal conflict between truth and family loyalty runs throughout the entire film.

The court granted the divorce to both Nader and Simin, officially ending their marriage. Termeh was then asked to decide which parent she would live with, creating an impossible choice between her father who needed her and her mother who was leaving the country. The film ends with her speaking to the judge, but her decision remains ambiguous.

The opening tension between Nader and Simin over staying versus leaving directly leads to this final separation.