Brief
Iranian director Asghar Farhadi denounces Hollywood’s portrayal of Iran and US democracy
At the Rio Film Festival, Farhadi said Hollywood films like ‘Argo’ present a misleading view of Iran and falsely label America a democracy.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Oscar‑winning Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi told reporters at the Rio Film Festival in Brazil on Friday that Hollywood’s depiction of Iran and the United States is a "lie," according to nypost.com.
While promoting his new film “Parallel Tales,” Farhadi was asked about the 2012 Best Picture winner “Argo.” He described the movie as a "Hollywood thing" that is "not deep," noting that it centers on a white American rescuing diplomats, a plot he said oversimplifies the real rescue, which involved a Mexican‑descent CIA operative.
Farhadi added that Hollywood repeatedly casts "a White guy from the United States" as the saviour, questioning why Americans feel compelled to intervene in places like Cuba or Iran. He said, "People understand they can save themselves. Who asked you to come and save us?" He also claimed the film portrays Iran "like you’re in hell" and criticised the industry’s “up‑to‑down” worldview.
In a broader statement, Farhadi denied that America truly practices democracy, asserting that "real America" exists among Black and foreign prisoners and that the claim of democracy is "a lie."
Key facts
- Asghar Farhadi criticised Hollywood’s depiction of Iran as a "lie" at the Rio Film Festival. (nypost.com)
- Farhadi said the film ‘Argo’ simplifies the rescue operation and centers on a white American hero. (nypost.com)
- He claimed the United States does not have a true democracy, calling it "a lie." (nypost.com)
Sources
- [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “Iranian director decries Hollywood portrayal of foreign countries, calls American democracy ‘a lie’”
