Iran state media calls Argo ’most political’ for Oscar win

It turns out Canadians aren’t the only ones upset with the fictionalized content of the Ben Affleck’s film Argo, which won best picture at the Academy Awards.

Iranian news agencies are also panning the content of the film, which tells the based-on-a-true story of American diplomats being rescued from Iran during the country’s revolution.

"The Academy Awards ceremony to present the Oscar for the best picture Argo by Ben Affleck revealed that Hollywood insiders are sacrificing quality and artistic cinema to political slogans and distortions," wrote state news agency Meher News. The award for best film was presented, via video link, by First Lady Michelle Obama, which Meher News also took issue with, calling the award "most political."

Meanwhile, Iran’s radio broadcaster said: "The film has won the award while independent cinematographers in the west have said that this year’s Oscar ceremony was just held through supports of the White House and the CIA due to its cheap quality and the forgery prevailing in the film."

And the broadcaster describes its interpretation of the Argo plot: "In another part of the film, after the entry of the revolutionary forces and students to the US den of espionage, the US diplomats (spies) hide at the Canadian ambassador’s house."

To sum up, Argo’s win was part of a White House and CIA plot, at least according to Iran.

In comparison, it makes the criticism lobbed by Canadians, and even former U.S. president Jimmy Carter, over the film’s neglect to recognize the major role Canada played in the rescue seems like a fairly minor complaint.