Oscar-winning Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi criticized Hollywood's depiction of foreign nations and challenged the United States' democratic credentials during an appearance at the Rio Film Festival in Brazil on Friday. While promoting his film "Parallel Tales," Farhadi responded to questions regarding the 2012 movie "Argo," which won Best Picture one year after his film "A Separation" received the Best Foreign Language Film award.
"Argo," directed by Ben Affleck, stars Affleck as CIA operative Tony Mendez in a story based on Mendez's memoir about rescuing six U.S. diplomats from Iran by disguising the operation as a science-fiction movie production. Farhadi described the film as a "Hollywood thing" and suggested it lacked depth, noting that the plot centers on a "White guy" saving others, even though the real-life Mendez was of Mexican descent.
According to Variety, Farhadi stated that these movies are made for money and that the narrative always involves an American saving others. He questioned why an American would travel to Cuba or Iran to save people, asserting that people understand they can save themselves and asking who requested American intervention. Farhadi also accused "Argo," which is set after the 1979 Iranian Revolution, of portraying Iran as a place akin to hell.
Farhadi argued that Hollywood films and some people in the United States view the world from a superior position. He said he does not understand why these individuals feel they are "up" while others are "down," describing this attitude as an ego. The director further denied that Americans have democracy, stating that he believes the "real America" exists among Black and foreign prisoners. "You don’t have democracy. It’s a lie," Farhadi said.
Fox News Digital reached out to representatives for both Farhadi and Affleck for comment. David Bozell, President of the Media Research Center, responded to Farhadi's remarks in a statement to Fox News Digital. Bozell countered that America has saved the world twice when asked to do so and remains prepared to do so again at a moment's notice. He suggested that Hollywood might make movies about Americans saving the world for a reason.