Asghar Farhadi Criticizes Hollywood’s Portrayal of Iran

Oscar-winning Iranian director Asghar Farhadi voiced strong opinions about Hollywood’s representation of Iran and other nations at the Rio Film Festival in Brazil. While promoting his movie “Parallel Tales,” Farhadi critiqued the film “Argo,” calling America’s claim to be a “democracy” a “lie.”

Farhadi was asked about “Argo,” the 2012 Best Picture Oscar-winning film directed by Ben Affleck. It depicts CIA operative Tony Mendez’s mission to rescue six U.S. diplomats from Iran by pretending to shoot a science-fiction film there.

They make these movies for money; it’s a business. And in these films it’s always a White guy from the United States saving others.

Farhadi labeled “Argo” a “Hollywood thing” and critiqued its lack of depth. He questioned the recurring theme of an American saving others and challenged the notion of the U.S. intervening in places like Cuba or Iran. He expressed that people are fully capable of saving themselves.

The director also accused “Argo” of portraying Iran as a hostile environment, stating that such films show a skewed perspective. He questioned why some in Hollywood view the world from a superior standpoint, asking why they assume they are “up” while others are “down.”

Farhadi criticized the American self-proclaimed democratic system, suggesting that the “real America” exists among marginalized communities, including Black and foreign prisoners. He asserted that the claim of democracy is deceptive.

Media Research Center President David Bozell responded to Farhadi’s views, emphasizing America’s historical role in global heroism.

Bozell stated, “America was asked to save the world, and we did, not once, but twice. We’re always ready to do it again. Perhaps Hollywood’s focus on American heroism has its reasons.”