Category Archives: Iran

Abduction, Acceptable Science, Acorn TV, Asperger's Syndrome, Australian, Australian Aborigine, Brother-Brother relations, Clever Plot, Computer geeks, Conspiracy, Corruption, Drama, International thriler, Iran, Journalist, Kidnapping, Love Story, Medical Theme, Mental Illness, North Korea, Nuclear weapons, Politicians, Spy Theme, Suspense, Terminal Disease, Thriller, Torture, TV news industry, Violent, Wonderful acting

The Code (2014)

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From IMDB:

Two Canberra based brothers become entangled in a cover up that involves a remote outback community and key members of the Australian Government.

Acorn TV offers this Season One 6-episode conspiracy thriller.

How am I ever going to find another governmental intrigue series as exciting, well-crafted, dramatic, and spellbinding as “The Code”?

Give a rousing cheer to the Australian actor Dan Spielman who plays Ned Banks  and to the California-born actor Ashley Zukerman who plays Ned’s brother Jesse. They are the center of attention around whom the plot revolves. Ned’s constant caring for his severely Asberger’s disabled but computer gifted bother Jesse supplies most of the drama.  In addition Adele Perovic’s role as Hani Parande, who brings love into Jesse’s life, is stunning. For me the only recognizable actor was the New Zealand icon Lucy Lawless who plays Alex Wisham.

Another twenty well-cast characters provide complexity and quite of bit of drama on their own.

Needless to say, there is an enormous amount of digital displays, computer shenanigans, and other hocus-pocus.  Just believe that the geeks know what they are doing.

Once again it was the evil in the “bad guys” that kept me on edge waiting to see if they received their just deserts.  Not all “good versus evil” plots end with justice prevailing. But then a little ambiguity spices any plot.

Recently I read a comparison of American versus British thriller series. One point made was that the Americans drag their stories on for too long. This Australian series backs up that idea. There was not a wasted piece of writing in all six episodes.

DO NOT MISS!!!!!!!

2012, Based on true facts, CIA, DO NOT MISS, Docudrama, Iran, Suspense, Thriller, True Story

Argo (2012)

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From NetFlix:

In 1979, when Iranian militants seize the American embassy, six Americans slip into the Canadian embassy for protection, prompting the CIA to concoct an elaborate plot to rescue them by pretending that they are filmmakers rather than diplomats.

From the Wikipedia article we learn:

Upon release, Argo received widespread acclaim and also received seven nominations for the 85th Academy Awards and won three, for Best Film Editing,[7] Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Picture. The film also earned five Golden Globe nominations, winning Best Picture – Drama and Best Director, while being nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Arkin.

From that same article you can read about reactions of the Iranians, reactions of New Zealand, and historical inaccuracies. Initial subtitles put that historical period into perspective, telling us just how we got into such a mess. From one point of view it is no wonder the Iranians hate us.

Tony Mendez, the real-life CIA agent, must have been an amazing person. For 120 minutes you will be sitting on the edge of your chair hoping he can help the six Americans escape. Scenes were contrived to heighten that suspense. For example at the very end of their ordeal, as the 6 Americans and Tony Mendez have just gotten into the plane and that plane is slowly maneuvering to take off into the air, there are truckloads of angry Iranians racing down the runway trying to stop the takeoff.

If you can stand the excitment, DO NOT MISS THIS FILM!

2011, Alzheimer's disease, Drama, Dysfunctional Lives, Iran, Persian, Religious Theme

A Separation (2011)

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From NetFlix:

An Iranian husband and wife split up over his decision to stay and care for his aging father instead of leaving the country with his family. But his fateful choice to hire a stranger to do most of the caretaking breeds unexpected consequences.

After watching this two hour in Persian with subtitles, you will probably be somewhat tired. Do not let the opening give you the impression that you will watching “talking heads”. However, the entire story is one headache after the other for every character. If that is life in Iran, be grateful you do not live there. It is, in fact, the progression of annoying details that got me so interested that even when I felt tired, I still had to finish the film to see if or how so many problems were resolved.

Possibly I got incorrect impressions. But as far as I could tell:

  • Differences between social classes are quite strong.
  • Whereas the upper class seems secular (possibly atheist), the lower classes are religious to the point of scrupulosity.
  • Everyone lies up to a point.
  • One’s honor is very important.
  • Iranians are very volatile.
  • Court justice is somewhat arbitrary.
  • Traffic is quite dense.
  • Life in Iran is a nightmare.

While not at all a feel-good film, as a slice of Iranian life it could be riveting.