It was so real!!!
Ben Affleck as CIA “exfiltration” specialist,
posing as a movie man in
Revolutionary Tehran
Whoooohhhh…..
that was close!
Marty and I
just saw Argo, the new film by Ben
Affleck, which tells the story of a daring rescue of six Americans from Tehran during the
1979-1980 Iranian Hostage Crisis.
It’s a
wonderful story, with suspense that has you sitting on the edge of your seat,
just willing the Iranian police to let the Americans pass, willing the Swissair
jet to lift off before Iranian security guards can stop the plane.
None of the
filming was done in Iran ,
but with the magic of old file footage of the actual hostage crisis, and scenes
shot in Istanbul and Hollywood ,
you can smell the South Tehran bazaar. You can live all over again crazy scenes
created by Iranian mards, as they
fire each other up over hatred for khareji---
strange foreigners from America. With
thousands of Iranians in the Los
Angeles area, they had no problem getting players who
speak excellent Farsi.
Our family
lived in Tehran for two years, leaving just
seven years before the world turned upside down for Iran , and for the Americans that
were trapped there when the Shah was overthrown, and Ayatollah Khomeini began
the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Marty atop our home in Tehran
When we
lived in Tehran ,
it was altogether different. Iranian
people were friendly and helpful to foreigners, but we were still worlds
apart. The plain people on the streets
and in the bazaars had not seen many Westerners, and they were as mystified
about us as we were about them.
When our
family, all with blond or red hair, walked through the seething bazaar, some
people couldn’t resist reaching out and touching the hair of our kids, aged seven
to 12. And that drove our kids nuts!
The bazaar
was like the one filmed in Argo---
narrow winding alleys, thousands of people going about their business of
shopping or selling, but never too busy to stop and stare at us as we bargained
for a kilo of apples or a large slab of Persian bread.
Affleck’s
film zooms in on Tehran
in the wild, hectic days of 1979 when the Shah had left, and the Ayatollah
Khomeini and all the religious clerics began a reign that unleashed decades of
pent-up Islamic fury, fear of foreigners and hatred of neighbor against
neighbor as people denounced each other for old grudges. Knowing that the United States had given refuge to
the Shah, it took little to fire up Iranians in the street, and soon they
stormed the American Embassy and took the embassy staff hostage.
In the wild
confusion of this event, six embassy staffers ran out a side door, and
escaped. They called at the British
embassy, but were turned away; the New Zealand embassy turned them
away, as well. Finally, the Canadian Ambassador took them in, and there they
stayed.
Back in Washington people at the
State Department and the CIA ponder how to get these six Americans out. Tony Mendez, played by Affleck, is a quiet
CIA specialist who has a reputation for exfiltration,
or getting people out of tight spots.
He comes up
with the idea of creating a fake science-fiction movie. He’ll travel to Tehran
as a Canadian filmmaker, gather up the six Americans, coach them to become
members of his film team scouting a Tehran
location for their new film. Then, they’ll all go to the airport and fly out!
Mendez
travels to Hollywood ,
where he meets the large John Goodman and a wise old film producer played by
Alan Arkin. The idea is crazy enough to
capture their imagination, and together they create a wild fake film, complete
with weird Star Wars-type costumes, story boards, movie posters for “Argo”, and other trappings for a real Hollywood production.
Oh, the
story is pretty far-fetched, and back in Washington ,
it’s a hard sell for Mendez.
Looking
back over all these years, one cannot help but thinking that if this scheme
would have failed, President Jimmy Carter would have been the laughingstock of
the world.
As a matter
of fact, when I see Governor Romney criticizing President Obama for not having
the “cojones” (Virility, you might say) to conduct a robust American big-stick
diplomacy, I can appreciate the problems presidents get into when any one of
them tries to show that he has the necessary “cojones” to stand up to Iranians,
or Libyans, Russians or whomever.
Sometimes
when he really doesn’t understand the people he is dealing with, the President
can make a monumental mistake, all to show that he has the “cojones”*.
Argo has some funny scenes, but as
Mendez takes his fake “film crew” right into the Tehran bazaar to scout a filming location, he
creates tension. The tension builds, and
as he herds the six up to each checkpoint at Mehrabad airport, I find myself
leaning forward, just trying to will
them past each barrier. There’s plenty of suspense, and that makes for an
excellent film.
* As it turns out, President Carter finally ordered the
Desert One Operation to extricate all the hostages in the American Embassy. He used helicopters flown from a carrier in
the Gulf of Oman
From Middle East
Media Research Institute (MEMRI) dispatch March 25, 2013:
'Best Picture' Oscar For 'Argo' Criticized In Iran
The Academy Awards win in the Best Picture category by the
film Argo, which depicts the rescue of six U.S.
diplomats following the student takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979, was seen in Iran as an anti-Iran move. Regime
spokesmen claimed that the film lacked artistic and cultural value and that it
distorted history. According to them, the film's win is part of the Iranophobia
led by the Americans and the Zionists,[1] and behind the win lurks a
Jewish-Zionist conspiracy; similar allegations of conspiracy were depicted in
cartoons published by regime news sites.
Following the film's win, the Iranian regime held a
conference titled "Hollywood Acrobatics," with the participation of
Iranian Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Mohammad Hosseini, to protest
against the alleged Islamophobia of the U.S. film industry. Conference
secretary Mohammad Lesani announced that Iran intends to hire French
attorney Isabelle Coutant-Peyre to sue "actors and investors who
participated in anti-Iran films such as Argo."[2] In addition, the Iranian
daily Jomhouri-e Eslami reported that Iran
would produce a 20-episode television series about "the takeover of the
American espionage nest in Tehran ."[3]
In contrast to the criticism that was widespread in the
country, Iranian reformist activist Abbas Abdi, who was himself one of the
students who participated in the U.S. Embassy takeover, said that the Academy's
choice of winning film was apolitical and that it should be respected; there is
no reason, he said, why the film should not win an Oscar.
Following are several examples of statements by Iranian
spokesmen and media on Argo's Oscar win, and cartoons on the issue published by
the Fars news agency, which is close to the
Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC):
Jomhouri-e Eslami:
Argo's Win Exposed The Academy Awards' Zionist Nature
A February 26, 2013 article in the Iranian daily Jomhouri-e
Eslami stated: "This film was nominated in seven categories, and, in a
clearly political and anti-Iran move, it won Best Picture. All the predictions
regarding the Zionist [nature] of this cinema event came true.
"The film Argo... directed by Ben Affleck, who is a
member of the American Democratic Party – which also includes [Presidents]
Jimmy Carter and Obama – is a product of the Zionist Warner Brothers company...
The investors and artists are a team comprising the Jewish [film] company
Warner Brothers in Hollywood, and a group from the ruling Democratic Party –
during the hostage incident at the espionage nest, Democratic president Jimmy
Carter was in office, and lost the [re]election over it – and also an advisory
committee from the Zionist lobby in the U.S. (AIPAC)...
"The perception among Iranians that [the criteria for
selecting the winning picture] are [solely] artistic was disproven long ago –
but now, [the entire] world... realizes that the Oscars, which were initially
established by Zionist capital and guidance... are a political tool in America 's
hands."[4]
Iranian UN Ambassador
On CNN: "There Are Many Mistakes In The Movie... The Producer... Should Be
Ashamed Of Producing Such A Film"
In a March 1, 2013 interview with CNN, Iranian Ambassador to
the UN Mohammad Khazaee said: "I was a member of the [Iranian film
festival] for five years when I was in Iran . From the technical point of
view, if I was a judge, [I would say that] this movie is a very weak movie...
Compared to Lincoln ,
compared to Life of Pi... it did not deserve to receive [the] Oscar prize.
"First of all, there are many mistakes in the movie.
For instance, you are familiar with our culture. Even the producer or the
director, they were not familiar with Iranian culture. You know, in Iran when we
want to say hello to somebody we say salaam. If we want to say goodbye we say
khoda hafez. Even the movie, [when] they [should have said] khoda hafez, they
were saying salaam. So even that much [shows that] the producer or director of
the movie, they're not familiar with Iranian culture.
"And, to be honest with you, whoever in Iran saw the film, they felt insulted by America . It was
politically wrong and technically wrong, and I think the producer of the film,
that is known as Ambassador of Peace [i.e. George Clooney], as I heard, should
be ashamed of producing such a film that from the technical point of view,
political point of view, was wrong, as well as insulting a big nation like
Iran.
"I would like to invite the producer and the director
of the film to travel to Iran ,
and when they travel to Iran ,
the day after they will apologize [to] the big nation of Iran for
producing such a weak film."[5]
Iranian Culture
Minister: American Politicians Acknowledge That The Film Is Not Realistic
Iranian Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Mohammad
Hosseini told reporters: "Argo is an anti-Iran film, and it is very
clearly lacking significant content and many artistic aspects. But from the
outset, publicity and funds were invested so that this film would win an Oscar.
There was a political move so that this film would win the Oscar. This is
completely clear.
"Maybe they were angry that we boycotted the Oscars and
did not participate in them, because of the film insulting the Prophet [i.e.
Innocence of Muslims]. They were looking for a film that does not match
reality. [In Argo,] we saw an inappropriate image of Iranians. Some of their
[i.e. the Americans'] politicians even acknowledged that [the film] is not
realistic.
"This was a political move that caused damage in the
professional aspect. They lost their reputation... This is propaganda that
seeks to influence the minds of the citizens of the world."[6]
Al-'Alam: The Award
Announcement By Michelle Obama Was Another Sign Of The Politicization Of The
Oscars
On February 25, 2013, the Arabic-language Iranian website
Al-'Alam published an article stating: "Supporters of this anti-Iran film
nominated it for seven Oscars, as part of their attempt to ensure that it would
win by any means. Ultimately, Argo, directed by Ben Affleck, won three awards –
while American film critics stressed that there were better films that were
more deserving of these awards.
"Observers believe that Argo is a political propaganda
film... This is scandalous; [it reached] the point where U.S. Secretary of
State John Kerry wished this distorted film luck the day before the awards
ceremony, [and, in yet] another indication of the politicization of this award,
First Lady Michelle Obama announced Argo as the winner live from the White
House. This is unprecedented in the history of the Academy Awards, and it
surprised observers and critics.
"Awarding the Oscar to Argo was widely criticized
because of [the film's] distortion of history and its anti-Iran perspective.
Even former U.S.
president Jimmy Carter referred to the film's distortion of history, even
though he expressed his hope that it would win."[7]
Reformist Abbas Abdi:
We Should Respect The Academy's Choice Of Argo
On February 26, 2013, Abbas Abdi, who was himself one of the
students who took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and who is today a reformist
activist, said: "Following the announcement of the winner of Best Picture
at the Academy Awards, [Iranian speakers] spoke emotionally. It would have been
better had they explained why Argo shouldn't win. It's a film, not history. We
have said [on other occasions] that [other] films were only films...
"[The Americans] were angry, and if we were in their
place, we might have been too...
"There were occasions when [the Americans] decided to
[use the Academy Awards for political purposes]. They were completely
politicized during the Cold War, when they came out against [artists] such as
Charlie Chaplin. Sometimes there is no need for this, but when there is, they
will do it...
"We should respect their choice, and not be angry. This
award was awarded by Americans at an [American] festival – not by us."[8]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] For example, the head of
the Center for Doctrinal Affairs of National Security Without Borders, Hassan
Abbasi, said: "Argo is a highly political film, and the award it was
granted is even more political than [the film itself]." Nasimonline.ir,
February 28, 2013. Iranian Ambassador to Italy Mohammad Ali Hosseini called
Argo a film "with no cultural value" and added that the Academy Award
"was another link in the U.S.
[2] Fararu (Iran
[3] Jomhouri-e Eslami (Iran
[4] Jomhouri-e Eslami (Iran
[5] CNN, March 1, 2013.
[6] Fars (Iran
[7] Fa.alalam.ir, February
25, 2013.
[8] Jamnews.ir, February 26,
2013.
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