As hard-liners and reformers in Iran debate the nuclear talks with the United States and other world powers, a new movie shows how that tension plays out among middle-class Iranians.

"About Elly" is about a group of college friends who are spending a fun weekend at the beach. When one of the women disappears, the search for her exposes betrayal, deception and the struggle between modernity and tradition.

The film was directed by Asghar Farhadi, who won the best foreign language film Oscar in 2011 for "A Separation."

In this interview, lead actress Golshifteh Farahani, who won a Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival for her portrayal of Sepideh, said her character portrays a side of Iran that the Western world knows little about — middle-class, well-educated, people. “I think that is what is important about this movie, it’s a door to this part of society in Iran that is difficult for us to see, and find and have access to,” she said.

Early in the film, we learn Sepideh has invited another woman, Elly, to introduce her to a recently divorced friend.

We know little about Elly, and then she disappears. The search for her changes the dynamic of the group, and the whole story. “I think all Asghar’s work is about the secrets we keep on finding and revealing what is really happening in the story,” said Farahani about the director.

Just as recent news has explored the internal divisions between hard-liners and modernists in Iran over nuclear talks, the actress explained the movie shows the that conflict, in a completely different setting. "We see that this chain of tradition is still stopping people from being totally free," she said. "And it's not about the government. It's about people, inside them."

Farahani now lives in Paris. She said she decided to leave Iran against her will, because she started having political problems. “This contrast for me is my everyday life,” she said.

"About Elly" is currently playing at at Film Forum.