Dramatisation of a secret mission

Argo 2012

Direction: Ben Affleck

This film received much praise mainly because it is an American movie that exaggerates American efforts to save its citizens from its 'evil' enemies. In the process, it renders genuine helpers mere bystanders. It narrates a secret mission apparently to rescue six embassy staff members who managed to escape their captors during the takeover of the American Embassy in 1979.  

Ben Affleck (the director and producer) stars as a CIA agent who masterminds an escape plan for the embassy staff by entering Iran undercover as a Canadian filmmaker searching for a location for his movie Argo, a space fantasy film. He manages to gain entry and contact the escapees. The tension of escaping from the threatening Iranian militia amidst the last-minute cancellation of their ticket and the pulsating excitement at the immigration exit point form the highlight of the film.

The camera shots were not typical of a feature film but resembled journalistic footage, like how reporters would capture live coverage, adding authenticity to the story. That's fresh! Even though we all know how the ending will be, the director still managed to maintain high tension and excitement right till the end!

The fictitious exit point drama before the runway
police car chase (also never happened)

People involved in the actual mission clarified that it was not as filled with anxiety, and other nationalities also played more significant roles. However, since this film is based on real events and not the actual mission, the dramatic licence allows it to portray the CIA as the eternal heroes and others as either foolish or barbaric!

To be fair, the film attempts to depict and justify the Iranian uprising, though it contains some historical inaccuracies (was this intentional?). After being governed by numerous Shahs, a secular prime minister was elected in 1950. He nationalised the oil fields operated by American and British companies. In response, the US supported a coup d'état to install Shah Reza Pahlavi as their puppet monarch. Many killings and punishments were carried out by Savak (his secret police) during his extravagant rule - the empress is said to have bathed in milk, and the Shah reportedly had his lunch flown from Paris on Concorde!

The people retaliated with the 1979 Islamic revolution. The deposed Shah (in the USA for cancer) is demanded to be returned. In this setting, the American Embassy hostage crisis unfolds. The great escape comes to an end when the stewardess announces on the PA system, "..alcoholic beverages will be served now as we are clear of the Iranian skies!..."

Just a few observations...

I never knew the term 'sweatshop' was popular before the 1990s and that the 'F' word wasn't used so freely in the late 1970s (I think, unless I was with the wrong crowd).