Asghar Farhadi takes aim at Ben Affleck’s Argo

Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi has criticised Ben Affleck’s Oscar-winning film Argo, arguing that Hollywood often presents complicated international conflicts through a one-sided American perspective.

Farhadi discussed the issue during an interview at the Rio Film Festival. He said some Hollywood productions portray the world as if the United States is positioned above other countries. He questioned the attitude behind such portrayals and said filmmakers should consider why some nations are presented as needing to be rescued.

The director also criticised what he described as Hollywood’s repeated use of the “American saviour” narrative. According to Farhadi, some films place an American character at the centre of conflicts in other countries and portray that character as the person who ultimately saves those involved.

Farhadi specifically referred to Argo, which was released in 2012 and later won the Academy Award for Best Picture. The film is based on the 1979 Iran hostage crisis and follows a CIA operation to help six American diplomats escape Iran.

The filmmaker argued that stories involving countries such as Iran and Cuba should not always be framed around an American hero. He said people in other countries are capable of dealing with their own problems and questioned why an American character is repeatedly presented as their rescuer.

Farhadi also linked the issue to the commercial nature of Hollywood. He said such films are made as part of a business and suggested that financial considerations can influence how international events are portrayed.

The filmmaker is known internationally for films including A Separation, which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2012. His comments have now renewed discussion about Hollywood’s depiction of Iran and the way real political events are adapted for mainstream cinema.