Reluctant Distribution for Foreign Films (USA) 2

Releases (opening weekend / max screens ) :

• 15 Feb 2011 : Berlinale première (Golden Bear)
• 16 March 2011 : Iran (?)
• 8 June 2011 : France (105/250); Belgium (9/11)
• 23 June 2011 : Thailand (?)
• 1st July 2011 : UK (23/29); Turkey (3/3)
• 14 July 2011 : Germany (50/159)
• 11 Aug 2011 : Netherlands (12/14)
• 25 Aug 2011 : Hungary (?)
• 16 Sept 2011 : Sweden (8/9)
• 29 Sept 2011 : Greece (3/5)
• 7 Oct 2011 : Poland (8/?); Spain (25/28)
• 13 Oct 2011 : South Korea (15/15)
• 21 Oct 2011 : Italy (29/29)
• 11 Nov 2011 : Finland (4/5); Austria (10/12)
• 24 Nov 2011 : Denmark (3/3); Russia (5/5)
• 15 Dec 2011 : Portugal (4/?)
• 25 Dec 2011 : Norway (30/30)
• 30 Dec 2011 : USA (3/282)
• 20 Jan 2012 : Brazil (?); Canada (?) 
• 3 Feb 2012 : Czech Rep. (3/?)
• 9 Feb 2012 : Israel (?/?) 
• 24 Feb 2012 : Lebanon (5/?)
• 1 Mar 2012 : Australia (21/25); Hong Kong (5/?)
• 8 Mar 2012 : Singapore (?)

American distributors don't think that this Golden Bear winner's narrative is "mainstream" enough to release it on wide release on opening weekend. Only 3 screens to probe the water... even though it won awards, it did a great (popular and critical; Roger Ebert placed it at number 1 on his 2011 top10 list) success in its country of origin (Iran), in France, or anywhere else in Europe. Even Israel is embracing this film from their archenemy! 

As of 4 Mar. 2012, A Separation has grossed $3,677,464 in Iran, along with $9,100,000 in other territories, for a worldwide total of $12,777,464

(Wikipedia)

Related :

• A Separation (Farhadi) 
• A Separation can't be divorced from Iranian politics (The Guardian; 5 July 2011) / Israeli auds separate art, politics. Nation's filmgoers flock to see Farhadi's 'A Separation' (Variety; 10 Mars 2012)
• Reluctant Distribution for Foreign Films (USA) 1 - The Artist
• October 2011 releases (USA) 
• USA quarantine year's best films / The myth of an arthouse circuit in the USA 
• Panahi : le cinéma au tribunal / Iranian Dissidence in Real Life Peril