DVD Round-Up: "A Separation" (2011) and "Damsels In Distress" (2012)

A Separation (2011)

The Basics: Oscar winning foreign language film centering around the complications that result when a married couple, Simin (Leila Hatami) and Nader (Peyman Moaadi), decide to temporarily live apart in order to have time to reflect on their problems and consider their future. Their daughter, Termeh (Sarina Farhadi), decides to stay with Nader, who is also caring for his father (Ali-Asghar Shahbazi), who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease. During the separation, Nader hires a poor young woman, Razieh (Sareh Bayat), to help care for his father while he is at work. However, after coming home early one day, Nader finds his father alone and passed out in his room, causing a confrontation between him and Razieh that will complicate both of their lives for some time to come.

Reasons to watch: It is no wonder that A Separation won the Foreign Language Film Oscar in 2012. The movie features an outstanding screenplay and terrific performances from the ensemble cast, particularly Peyman Moaadi, as the complex Nader. He is a husband, father, caretaker and a hard working man who finds his life turned upside down by a random series of events that could have been avoided had he not separated from Simin.

The Bottom Line: A magnificent film.

Damsels in Distress (2012)

The Basics: A group of young women, led by the confident, yet often mistaken, Violet (Greta Gerwig), attempt to change the male dominated atmosphere/culture of their college, Seven Oaks, while also dealing with their various male love interests who threaten to distract them from their mission.

Reasons to Watch: Greta Gerwig is sublime in her role as Violet, the leader of the group. How she is able to keep a straight face while reciting her often absurd dialogue is amazing. The screenplay, by Whit Stillman, who also serves as director, is often quietly hysterical.

The Bottom Line: While Damsels in Distress is not for everyone, viewers who appreciate and understand the absurd humor may find themselves laughing out loud throughout the film. The intelligent screenplay insists that viewers pay attention because the material is always played straight by the talented young cast, who have mastered the art of the poker face.