I chose to review the movie Argo, a movie about the 1979 Iranian Hostage Crises that took place soon after the 1979 Islamic revolution that took place in the nation. The movie illustrates how Tony Mendez (portrayed by Ben Affleck) managed to sneak six hostages out of Iran who were likely to eventually be found and killed. In February of 1979 massive riots and protests erupted outside of the US embassy in Tehran, primarily comprised of college students. They at last broke through the gates and stormed the embassy putting tens of Americans at risk. While most were taken hostage, six Americans escaped through the back and found asylum in the Canadian embassy for a short period. With a short window of time to act, the US sent Mendez to pose as a Hollywood producer looking to film a movie in different locations around the globe, Tehran being one of them. Upon arrival to the country, he reunited with the six hostages in the Canadian embassy, gave each of the hostages a new identity with passports and social security numbers, and ensured they all were prepared to play their new roles in order to survive. In the end, Mendez was hardly able to fool airport security in Tehran. The thriller was so successful that in 2013, it won three Oscars and was nominated for seven total, winning the Best Motion Picture of the Year. While Argo was awarded prestigious achievements, the movie depicts themes of “otherness” in several ways, primarily due to its success. The movie visualizes the 1979 protests with anti-USA propaganda in a modern context, making viewers who are, for the most part, not Iranian think that the Iranian people hold this negative sentiment towards America now. This sparks anger and distaste towards Iranians in and outside of Iran. Argo’s depiction of how the CIA outsmarted Iranian intelligence puts forth the notion that Iranians are easily gullible and weak. Both themes being spread by the 2013 movie of the year contributes to the marginalization of Iranians worldwide, and further reinforces Adichie’s accusations of the presence of otherness in society.
