Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. MC said: "I'm of the belief we could all do with a Mrs Hall in our lives." Victoria Hudson added . Theyre capable of so much more., Of her role in that crucial nail-biting scene, Vand says, She [Sahar] has a moment of decision, and, for me, its really important that this scene exists. SUBJECTS U.S./1945 1991 & Iran The Iran Hostage Crisis; MORAL-ETHICAL EMPHASIS Caring & Citizenship. There are several others that students may describe. The opening of the film set out explicitly why the Iranian people were so angry, and gave a good 50 year history of the events leading up to the storming of the embassy. We went. She called that aspect of her role particularly meaningfulinterspersed with archival footage and illustrations, these moments detail a rising enmity between the US and Iran. Ex-CIA agent Tony Mendez, who inspired the Oscar-winning film Argo, has died at the age of 78. It was clear the organization and energy was focused on the Hollywood option. She works in the Canadian ambassadors residence during the many months the six U.S. diplomats are trapped there, serving them dinner and pouring them glass after glass of the wine they consume to calm their nerves. Categories. It was hard saying goodbye to Sam. See also TWMs Historical Fiction in Film Cross-Curricular Homework Project. The Argo exfiltration operation went off very smoothly. There are no easy answers. Who makes the plaid blue coat Jesse stone wears in Sea Change? But Argo wasnt going to sugar coat why exactly these Americans were in this situation. TWM views the Taylors as the most heroic. But this film knew what it was about, and had a good handle on the complexity of the situation. Don't have unrealistic expectations. There are also other examples of U.S. sponsored regime change that did not lead to lasting hostility, e.g., Chile in 1973. Narrated by: Susie Berneis. The story of her group's escape has been made into a blockbuster movie, "Argo" directed by and starring Ben Affleck. 6. But, yanno, Hollywood needs its suspense. I think Jimmy Carter has it about right, it was 90 percent Canada, 10 percent the CIA.". situation to their well-being and safety, yet continued to respond 3. She said, I feel lucky that Ive never been asked to play a terrorist. How long have these six Canadians been here? they ask her. "We took the six in without being asked so it starts there," Taylor said. In the discussion, note that all of these except perhaps for the first two are fictional. Argo How the CIA and Hollywood Pulled Off the Most Audacious Rescue in History, by Antonio Mendez and Matt Baglio, Viking, 2012, page 298. "I spoke to him recently when he asked me to narrate a documentary he is prominently featured in and yet he didn't mention any lingering concerns. The housekeeper is in deep trouble should she not be able to flee to Iraq, a feat she barely accomplishes. 1. He deserves it. Because while all of the hostages are eventually brought home, and yay rah-rah America, theres Sahar still out there, displaced, walking into a war that will be perpetuated by the very people she chose to shelter. What are the two applications of bifilar suspension? Tony Mendez, the former CIA officer who rescued six American diplomats from revolutionary Iran in 1980, died Saturday. I still expected this to be a bit of a propaganda film, full of crazy evil terrorists and noble Americas. But those applause made me wonder how many people would actually remember Sahar. She represented those who saw the potentially damaging Wiki User. Sam told us she did not understand the hostage situation, and he had decided that explaining it to her would make things worse. I feel a little silly being another actor trying to write, she said. The British and New Zealand diplomats in Iran were also helpful. In comments about the incident that I had never heard before, Carter says our chance of success was 50 percent. Argo How the CIA and Hollywood Pulled Off the Most Audacious Rescue in History, by Antonio Mendez and Matt Baglio, Viking, 2012. Worksheet for Cinematic and Theatrical Elements and Their Effects. CIA creates SF movie ruse to smuggle people out of Iran? Housekeeping refers to managing all the duties that go into running a home. I figured it was just a good excuse for the media to fuel itself up for Argo, and the Inconvenient Truth of Sahar Read More Affleck's thriller is widely expected to win the best-picture trophy. Among the many good wishes for newlyweds Katherine Schwarzenegger and A-lister Chris Pratt online, one message stood out the most.. Joseph Baena the love child of Katherine's father, Arnold . Maid Marian is a fictitious character from the folklore of Robin Moral-Ethical Emphasis, Assignments and Projects The boat sinks! Given the fact that the audience will take away from this film a vivid impression of the 1979-1981 Iran hostage crisis, do you think that, on the whole, this film improves the viewers understanding of the important historical events as they actually occurred? In light of my many conversations as well as a change to an end card that Ken requested I am surprised that Ken continues to take issue with the film," Affleck said in the statement. Friends of Taylor were outraged last September when "Argo" debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. "He's a good director. It doesnt hurt that it was extraordinarily well-written sometimes I forget Ben Affleck co-wrote an Academy-winning screenplay. John took us upstairs and introduced us to a younger man named Taylor, who I assumed was his assistant. Whatever, Hollywood. The original postscript of the movie said that Taylor received 112 citations and awards for his work in freeing the hostages and suggested Taylor didn't deserve them because the movie ends with the CIA deciding to let Canada have the credit for helping the Americans escape. Im a friend of Iran, I would say, and many of them believed me. Ben Affleck's film Argo tells the bizarre story of how in 1980 the CIA - with Canadian help - sprang a group of Americans from Iran after they escaped a US embassy overrun by protestors. The show went up in LAs warehouse district, and enjoyed an encore appearance last Halloween. Spoilers: The hostages get away! Maria. Devastating. Could I have survived three months under the stressful conditions depicted in the film? Don't ask me to clean your five-bedroom house and then say you need it done in two hours. I agreed to do it and I look forward to seeing Ken at the recording.". The hostage crisis was no closer to resolution. One of three scenarios: 1. Lester's Housekeeper: Michael Parks . The Canadians played a major role in the rescue, issuing six fake passports for the diplomats (this required a secret act of the Canadian Parliament), creating Canadian identities for the American diplomats, and smuggling into Iran via diplomatic pouch materials to make the escape possible, such as the false passports, other false identification, disguise kits provided by the CIA, and movie paraphernalia to support the Argo cover story. Twenty years after secretly fathering a child with the family housekeeper, Arnold Schwarzenegger says he's still working to put the mistake . Second, it was backstopped: The phone number on my fake business card would be answered, and we had a script, storyboards, and other paraphernalia. The icon's housekeeper, Eunice Murray, allegedly discovered her naked body surrounded by empty pill bottles. It takes attention away from more important stories including: (1) the American intervention in Iranian affairs which led to the brutal and repressive 25 year reign of the Shaw, an intervention that continues to be a major factor in the long-lasting hatred of the U.S. by many people in Iran; and (2) the plight of the 52 American diplomats who were held hostage and sometimes tortured for 444 days after the embassy take-over. A housekeeper can help you keep track of a busy schedule, make sure the kids have done their homework, run errands, and prepare delicious, home-cooked meals for the whole family each night. See also Assignments, Projects, and Activities for Use With any Film that is a Work of Fiction. The book, along with Bearman's article in Wired, served as the source material for "Argo," which won the Oscar for best picture. (The sixth member of our group, Lee Schatz, joined us a week later, after hiding with the Swedes.). The film can serve as the basis for discussion and writing with respect to the risks and benefits of using movies as historical fiction. Discussion Questions Relating to Ethical Issues will facilitate the use of this film to teach ethical principles and critical viewing. Sahar is the housemaid in the home of the Canadian ambassador and his wife. Heroine of 'Argo' is Iranian housekeeper Sahar is the housemaid in the home of the Canadian ambassador and his wife. When her mother and father flew out to visit her on set in Istanbul, they told her stories about the history of their relationship that theyd never shared with her before. What are the disadvantages of shielding a thermometer? 2. The discussion should cover the following points. CIA creates SF movie ruse to smuggle people out of Iran? Early in the ordeal, Bob had telephoned two friends. How did you use the result to determine who walked fastest and slowest? That includes cleaning and tidying, but also preparing meals, grocery shopping, and even paying the bills. He had been suffering from Parkinson's Disease. My friends are tired of that. Like, isnt it weird that the CIA first trained Osama bin Laden and so its maybe not so heroic when, later, they take him out, since they sort of helped make him in the first place? One countrys freedom fighter is anothers terrorist. As a housekeeper, you'll have to persevere day after day, performing each duty to the best of your ability. Sam figured she was so angry she might turn us. I usually cant stand him because he comes across as some stupid jock, but I bought him in this role. He was 81. How can two fathers and two sons divide three automobiles among themselves with each rec eiving one? What is housekeeping? There's no dispute that it is historically inaccurate and ignores a larger tragedy to focus on a tiny sliver of success associated with a humiliating chapter in the nation's history. There was a reason the Iranian revolution happened. Teachers can introduce the film and place the escape of the six American diplomats in context by providing direct instruction covering the following topics. Copy. The movie also makes no mention of Sheardown, the First Secretary at the embassy. Available from Amazon.com. Which is not to say that our situation was without real-life dramajust that most of it happened before Mendez arrived. Hood. He was 81. Even so, we knew that both the foreign ministry and our embassy had records of houses leased by U.S. employees. I know a few folks whose parents lived in Iran before the revolution, and mapping their experiences onto the ones presented in the film was interesting. Students will evaluate a work of historical fiction and gain an understanding of the history of the difficult relationship between the U.S. and Iran over the last 60 years. Our Canadian hosts kept us confident and comfortable, and the plan hatched by Mendez worked even better than Argo suggests. The movie's basic premise is based on a real mission that the Canadian government and the CIA undertook. If we had a Hispanic guy play, say, Lincoln, can you imagine the shitstorm people would raise? I figured it was just a good excuse for the media to fuel itself up for war with Iran (because we dont have enough wars! All opinions are acceptable. Sixty. TWM recommends this film only for the purpose of showing students some of the risks of getting history through movies that are based on real events, even if the facts presented in the film are themselves reasonably accurate. How had I missed this story in all my reading about Iran? As for finding more studio film and television roles, Vand said she didnt want to guess whatArgomight bring. Sahar and her family were given a U.S. or Canadian passports (neither of whic Continue Reading 16 2 Sponsored by The Penny Hoarder Brutal. Richard Cartwright/CBS. The. Iranian staff at the embassy, who deduced the guests identities as Etc. silently to avoid the deaths of those involved. In my opinion, despite its big Hollywood stars and breathtaking cinematography, the historic lesson would be all but lost if it werent for the films most minor and most easily overlooked character: the Iranian maid. The play opened in Los Angeles before moving on to Broadway, where it ran from March until July 2011. My wife Cora as well as Joe and Kathy Stafford, two other embassy employees, followed his lead. By: Natalie Barelli. It was then that we discussed again a call that Bob Anders had made several days before. She is an amalgamation(fictional representation) of several As we all heard Vice President Joe Biden articulate last week in the debates, the facts matter.. For those reasons, the timing of this films release gives its content, and the politics it conveys, that much more weight and importance. What happened to Gloria Satterfield? February 23, 2013 / 5:16 PM John and his wife, who sheltered four of the six Americans, are not represented in the movie. Afflecks version of events is not only a well-told tale, but a useful story, a necessary and enjoyable mechanism for introducing a younger generation to the origins of our confrontation with Iran. Teachers can modify the movie worksheets to fit the needs of each class. He put his life in danger, too. But holy crap, crazy). Housekeepers charge an average of $15 to $40 per hour, but move-in or move-out services can cost up to $70 per hour. Bibliography. That idea may sound crazy today, but we liked it right away, as I recall, and for three reasons. 2023 Iran Times - An Independent newspaper. Gain access to and watch the Special Features information that has been released with the film. I left the theater sweatingjust as when I exited the airport bus to board a Swissair flight out of Tehran in January of 1980, one of the six Americans who were rescued by Tony Mendez, the CIA employee Affleck plays. After our introductions, I asked John whether his ambassador knew about us. Your gov at work, kids. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver's marriage has, from the outside, seemingly unraveled at lightning speed this week, with news of a split quickly followed by an admission of an affair, an . See questions on the Film Study Worksheet for a Work of Historical Fiction (discussion questions #s 1 & 2 are derived from this worksheet). So for days we had put off accepting Johns offer. The primary historical error in the story is the focus on the CIA and the minimization of the role played by the Canadian government in the rescue. Why does everyone hate Americans? The Associated Press contributed to this report. 2023 Oscar nomination predictions: Who will take the top spots? In what way did this information influence your attitude toward both the revolutionaries and the diplomats? They got trapped in the country for another five years.. ", Carter appeared on CNN on Thursday night and said "90 percent of the contributions to the ideas and the consummation of the plan was Canadian," but the film "gives almost full credit to the American CIA.". For starters, "Argo" is centered around real events and people. Vand currently is working on two screenplays. Quote sources, such as Jimmy Carter, and various news outlets that gained access to the story, details of which were made public in 1997. Instead, she and her parents toured Turkey. Photo: EIKE SCHROTER/NETFLIX. In the other, I think we were meant to be teachers looking for employment at an international school. There's nothing much right from Day 1 I could do about the movie. Make sure you give me enough time to clean everything properly . [8] Boost your self-discipline by keeping all of your devices out of sight. Part of the learning curve is getting over the fear of putting stuff out there. The dialogue was punchy and witty, and again, the sheer craziness of this plan was so crazy that I could almost buy that it worked (I know, I know! At the end of the viewing I went to, the audience burst into a loud round of applause. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It is the one unbiased record to survive . Vand began acting as a teenager growing up in Palo Alto, California, where her mother and father moved after immigrating to the US from Azerbaijan, where they had gone after the revolution. They said it was treated as routine on both ends both by the people who gave them the orders and by the Iranians and Iraqis who signed for the weapons on the other end. Read Joshua Bermans WIRED article dated 2007 and entitled How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans From Tehran. Write an essay in which you note how the information presented in Bermans piece is presented in Argo. That convinces the intelligence officer the group of six are not the escaped American diplomats and he goes away satisfied. She didnt want to guess whatArgomight bring discussion, note that all of these except perhaps for next. Taylor, who inspired the Oscar-winning film Argo, has died at the Toronto International film Festival CIA Used Fake... Place the escape of the situation automobiles among themselves with each rec eiving one didnt to! Of Fiction an International school conditions depicted in the home of the viewing went... 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