Asghar Farhadi Critiques Hollywood’s Portrayal of Iran

During the Rio Film Festival in Brazil, acclaimed Iranian director Asghar Farhadi voiced his concerns about Hollywood’s representation of Iran and other countries, labeling the notion that America is a “democracy” as a falsehood.

While promoting his new film “Parallel Tales,” Farhadi was questioned about how the 2012 film “Argo” won the Best Picture award, just a year after his own film “A Separation” secured the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar.

“Argo,” which stars Ben Affleck as CIA operative Tony Mendez, offers a dramatized account of Mendez’s memoir regarding the rescue of six U.S. diplomats from Iran by pretending to film a science-fiction movie.

Farhadi criticized “Argo” as a “Hollywood thing,” suggesting it lacks depth, particularly because of its narrative that centers on a “White guy” coming to the rescue. He noted, somewhat ironically, that Mendez, in reality, had Mexican ancestry.

“These movies are made for profit; it’s a business,” Farhadi pointed out, according to Variety. “And they often feature a [W]hite hero from the United States saving others. My question is: Why? Why does an American go to places like Cuba or Iran to save people? People know they can save themselves. Who asked for that?”

He further remarked that the portrayal of Iran in “Argo,” set against the backdrop of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, depicts the country as “like you’re in hell.”

“The issue with these kinds of films in Hollywood, as well as with some people in the U.S., is that they view the world from an elevated perspective,” Farhadi stated. “You might want to ask them: Why do you think you’re above us? I don’t get where this sense of superiority comes from.”

Farhadi dismissed the idea that Americans have a claim to democracy, asserting that the “true America” can be found among marginalized groups, including Black and foreign prisoners.

“You don’t have democracy. It’s a lie,” Farhadi declared.

In response to Farhadi’s statements, David Bozell, President of the Media Research Center, countered his negative portrayal of America and American cinema, emphasizing, “America has been called upon to aid the world, and we’ve done that multiple times. We’re always ready to respond if needed. Perhaps Hollywood creates narratives about Americans saving the world for a reason.”