Oscar-winning Argo is advert for CIA: Iran
26 Feb 2013 8:08 AM IST
Iran's state TV on Monday dismissed the Oscar-winning film Argo as an ‘advertisement for the CIA’ and some Iranians called the award a political statement by America for its unflattering portrayal of the aftermath of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
And while Argo has not appeared in any Iranian cinema, there has been no shortage of buzz from those who saw the movie through bootleg DVD networks.
The discussions over Argo in Iran have often pried open a generational divide: Iranians who took part in the 1979 Islamic Revolution picking apart the portrayals of Tehran during the time, and Iranians too young to recall the events getting a different view of the upheavals.
Argo is deemed ‘politically motivated’ because First Lady Michelle Obama, from the White House, joined Jack Nicholson via video link in Los Angeles to help present the best picture prize. Iran's state TV called the movie ‘an advertisement for the CIA’ Iran's culture minister, Mohammad Hosseini, said Hollywood has ‘distorted history’ as part of what Iranian officials call a ‘soft war’ of cultural influence in Iran. But retired teacher, Reza Abbasi, who saw the Revolution first-hand, said: ‘I know Hollywood usually changes reality to make it attractive for movie lovers, but more or less it was close to the realities then.’
And while Argo has not appeared in any Iranian cinema, there has been no shortage of buzz from those who saw the movie through bootleg DVD networks.
The discussions over Argo in Iran have often pried open a generational divide: Iranians who took part in the 1979 Islamic Revolution picking apart the portrayals of Tehran during the time, and Iranians too young to recall the events getting a different view of the upheavals.
Argo is deemed ‘politically motivated’ because First Lady Michelle Obama, from the White House, joined Jack Nicholson via video link in Los Angeles to help present the best picture prize. Iran's state TV called the movie ‘an advertisement for the CIA’ Iran's culture minister, Mohammad Hosseini, said Hollywood has ‘distorted history’ as part of what Iranian officials call a ‘soft war’ of cultural influence in Iran. But retired teacher, Reza Abbasi, who saw the Revolution first-hand, said: ‘I know Hollywood usually changes reality to make it attractive for movie lovers, but more or less it was close to the realities then.’
Next Story
