Iran Media Condemns ‘Argo’ Oscar Win, Seen As Political Statement

Argo‘s Best Picture win at the 2013 Oscars was a thrill to many, but the country depicted in the film isn’t too fond of Ben Affleck’s directorial triumph. Iran has scoffed at the film’s Academy acclaim, calling it an “advertisement for the CIA” and criticizing its portrayal of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Specifically, Iran’s state TV on Monday called the Oscar win a very purposeful political statement from America to Iran, helped in small part by First Lady Michelle Obama’s surprise appearance at the ceremony last night, reports the Washington Post.

Argo has not been shown in Iranian theaters, but many people have still seen it thanks to bootlegged and pirated copies, reports MSN.

Reaction among Iranians to Argo is divided between individuals old enough to remember the 1979 Islamic Revolution and younger people who have no firsthand knowledge of the historic event.

“I want to know what the other side is saying,” said one 21-year-old University student regarding her reasons for seeing Argo.

Tehran City Council member Masoomeh Ebtekar, who was a student among the US Embassy occupants in 1979, criticized the movie. He said that director Affleck “goes and shows scenes of a very violent and very angry mob throughout the film,” continuing, “It is never mentioned that these are a group of students.”

But what difference would that make? Retired teacher Reza Abbasi saw the Islamic Revolution first-hand, and said: “I know Hollywood usually changes reality to make it attractive for movie lovers, but more or less it was close to the realities then.”