The Past (2013)

The Past (original title: Le Passé) is a French-Iranian drama film directed by Asghar Farhadi, the acclaimed filmmaker behind A Separation. Quiet, contemplative, and emotionally rich, The Past is a poignant exploration of memory, emotional wounds, and the complexities of interpersonal relationships. It was nominated for the Palme d’Or at Cannes and received widespread critical acclaim.

Detailed Summary

Opening: Ahmad Returns to France

Ahmad (Ali Mosaffa) returns to France from Iran after four years to finalize his divorce from his estranged wife, Marie (Bérénice Bejo). She has moved on and is now in a relationship with Samir (Tahar Rahim), a man who has his own complicated past. Marie’s request for Ahmad’s presence is not just about the paperwork—it’s also about seeking his help with her troubled daughter, Lucie.

Tensions in the House

Ahmad finds himself drawn into the emotional turmoil of the household. Marie is pregnant with Samir’s child, Lucie is angry and resentful, and the young children are caught in the middle. Ahmad becomes a reluctant mediator, trying to uncover what lies beneath the growing tension. He soon learns that Lucie despises Samir and is disturbed by her mother’s new relationship.

Lucie’s Secret

As Ahmad digs deeper, Lucie reveals a devastating secret: she sent an email to Samir’s wife—who was in a coma after a suicide attempt—revealing Marie and Samir’s affair. This admission introduces the film’s central moral dilemma. Did Lucie’s revelation drive the woman to attempt suicide? Is Lucie to blame? Is Marie? Or is Samir’s situation more complex than anyone realizes?

A Web of Guilt and Unspoken Pain

The narrative slowly peels away layers of truth. Ahmad, though no longer part of this family, becomes the lens through which the audience examines the trauma each character carries. Samir’s quiet grief and rage are gradually unveiled, particularly in a powerful scene where he plays back recordings of his comatose wife’s voice. Marie, on the other hand, wrestles with guilt and confusion, not entirely sure of her emotional footing.

The title The Past is deeply symbolic—it refers not just to former relationships, but to emotional residue, guilt, and unresolved trauma that continues to dictate the present.

Movie Ending

In the final scenes, The Past leaves behind courtroom drama or melodrama in favor of quiet, devastating human realism. After an emotionally wrenching confrontation, Samir visits his wife, who remains in a coma. He brings with him a bottle of her favorite perfume—a sensory trigger he believes might provoke a response.

He applies the perfume and leans in, speaking softly, asking her to squeeze his hand if she can hear him. The camera lingers in silence.

We see his hand holding hers.

A moment passes.

Then a single tear rolls down her cheek—but her hand does not move.

The film ends on this ambiguous, emotional note. Did she react? Was it a reflex? Is she still trapped within, aware but unresponsive? We are left in a state of painful uncertainty—just like the characters who are each trying to move forward while anchored to unresolved pasts.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, The Past does not have a post-credits scene. The story concludes with the emotionally charged hospital moment and fades out, in line with the film’s subtle and contemplative tone.

Type of Movie

The Past is a drama film with strong elements of psychological and domestic realism. It’s a slow-burn narrative that prioritizes character over plot and leans heavily into themes of emotional conflict, guilt, and interpersonal struggle.

Cast

• Bérénice Bejo as Marie Brisson
• Tahar Rahim as Samir
• Ali Mosaffa as Ahmad
• Pauline Burlet as Lucie
• Jeanne Jestin as Léa
• Elyes Aguis as Fouad

Film Music and Composer

The film is notable for having no traditional music score. Asghar Farhadi deliberately chose to avoid a soundtrack to maintain realism and emotional intimacy. The silence and ambient sound design heighten the tension and give more emotional weight to the dialogue and performances.

Filming Locations

The film was shot in Paris and its surrounding suburbs, primarily in Vitry-sur-Seine, which reflects the middle-class, somewhat cramped, emotionally charged domestic setting. The physical confinement of the characters mirrors their emotional entrapment—each of them stuck in a house full of memories, secrets, and emotional debris.

Awards and Nominations

• Cannes Film Festival (2013):
  • Best Actress for Bérénice Bejo (won)
  • Palme d’Or (nominated)
• Golden Globe Awards:
  • Best Foreign Language Film (nominated)
• César Awards:
  • Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress (nominated in multiple categories)

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Asghar Farhadi wrote the script in French with help from translators, even though French is not his native language.
• The film was shot in sequence to allow actors to evolve emotionally with the story.
• Bérénice Bejo replaced Marion Cotillard, who dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.
• The actors often worked with Farhadi in long, detailed rehearsals to refine emotional nuance.
• The director’s method focuses heavily on subtext; much of the dialogue is indirect, forcing actors to communicate with silence and expression.

Inspirations and References

While The Past is an original work, it is spiritually aligned with Farhadi’s previous films like A Separation and About Elly. It also echoes themes from European domestic dramas by filmmakers like Ingmar Bergman and Michael Haneke, exploring moral ambiguity, family secrets, and emotional repression.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

There are no officially released alternate endings, but some scenes involving Lucie and her biological father were trimmed or omitted to keep the narrative focused. Farhadi reportedly chose to maintain ambiguity rather than resolve every character arc neatly, as it better reflected real-life emotional complexity.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The Past is not based on a book. It is an original screenplay written by Asghar Farhadi, though its narrative depth and moral ambiguity give it the feel of a literary drama.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• Ahmad’s silent observation of Marie and Samir’s domestic life.
• Lucie’s breakdown and confession about the email.
• Samir watching videos of his comatose wife in the dry-cleaning shop.
• The final scene in the hospital with the perfume.

Iconic Quotes

• Ahmad: “The past can’t be buried just by leaving it behind.”
• Marie: “You think coming back makes you a part of this?”
• Samir: “We don’t know what she heard. We don’t know what she saw.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The cluttered household setting mirrors the tangled emotional lives of the characters.
• Lucie’s makeup smudges are subtle cues of her growing internal conflict.
• The use of reflective surfaces (mirrors, glass) often appears during moments of self-confrontation.

Trivia

• This is the first film Asghar Farhadi directed outside of Iran.
• Bérénice Bejo learned Persian phrases to better connect with her co-star in rehearsals.
• Despite not using music, sound design plays a huge role—note the use of silence to highlight discomfort.
• The screenplay was translated into French and rewritten with native speakers to preserve nuance.

Why Watch?

Watch The Past if you’re drawn to intimate, emotionally layered storytelling that challenges you to reflect on moral ambiguity and the lasting effects of emotional trauma. It’s not just about relationships—it’s about the unspoken truths and burdens we carry long after events have passed.

Director’s Other Movies

• A Separation (2011)
• About Elly (2009)
• The Salesman (2016)
• Everybody Knows (2018)
• Fireworks Wednesday (2006)

Recommended Films for Fans

• Blue Valentine (2010)
• A Separation (2011)
• Still Life (2013)
• The Son’s Room (2001)
• The Broken Circle Breakdown (2012)
• Marriage Story (2019)
• Scenes from a Marriage (1974)