The Aporia · Iranian director decries Hollywood portrayal of foreign countries, calls American democracy 'a lie'

At the Rio Film Festival in Brazil, Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi criticized Hollywood's portrayal of Iran and other foreign countries as inaccurate and stereotypical during a discussion about his film "Parallel Tales." He specifically targeted Ben Affleck’s movie “Argo,” questioning why an American would be portrayed as saving people from another country when locals can save themselves. Farhadi also claimed that calling the United States a democracy is a "lie," suggesting instead that true democracy exists among marginalized groups in America.

Written by AI on 2026-10-06, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

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At the Rio Film Festival in Brazil on Friday, Asghar Farhadi, an Oscar-winning Iranian filmmaker, criticized Hollywood's portrayal of foreign countries like Iran as a form of propaganda. While promoting his film "Parallel Tales," Farhadi was questioned about "Argo" winning Best Picture at the Oscars just one year after his own film won for Best Foreign Language Film. Directed by Ben Affleck and based on CIA operative Tony Mendez's memoir, "Argo" depicts a fictionalized account of Mendez rescuing six U.S. diplomats from Iran in 1979. Farhadi dismissed the film as "not deep," criticizing its reliance on a white American hero figure to save others, despite Mendez being of Mexican descent. He accused Hollywood of making such films for profit and suggested they depict America's democracy as a lie by showing Americans always coming to save other nations' people when those people can help themselves.

Written for “Iranian Director Critiques Hollywood” on 2026-10-31, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 Iranian Director Critiques Hollywood

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Lindsay Kornick

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Oscar-winning Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi called out Hollywood's depiction of Iran and other foreign countries at the Rio Film Festival in Brazil on Friday, claiming it is a "lie" to call America a "democracy." asserted

it → win → America

While promoting his film "Parallel Tales," Farhadi was asked about the 2012 movie "Argo" winning Best Picture just one year after his film "A Separation" won Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars. asserted

film → promote → Oscars

"Argo," directed by Ben Affleck, stars Affleck as CIA operative Tony Mendez in a loose adaptation of Mendez's memoir on the rescue of six U.S. diplomats from Iran by pretending to film a science-fiction movie in the nation. asserted

Argo → direct → nation

Farhadi described the film as a "Hollywood thing" and suggested it was "not deep" based on its plot involving a "White guy" saving others, though Mendez in real life was of Mexican descent. uncertain

Mendez → describe → descent

"They make these movies for money; it’s a business," Farhadi said, according to Variety. uncertain

Farhadi → make → Variety

"And in these films it’s always a [W]hite guy from the United States saving others. asserted

it → ’ → others

Why does an American go to Cuba or Iran to save people? asserted

American → go → people

People understand they can save themselves. asserted

they → understand → themselves

Who asked you to come and save us?" asserted

Who → ask → us

Farhadi also accused "Argo," which took place after the 1979 Iranian Revolution, of portraying Iran "like you're in hell." asserted

you → accuse → hell

"The problem with these kinds of films in Hollywood [and] some people in the United States [is that] they look at the world from up to down," Farhadi said. asserted

Farhadi → look → world

"Someday you should ask them: Why do you feel you’re up and we’re down? asserted

we → ask → them

I don’t understand why they have this ego that they’re up." asserted

they → understand → ego

Farhadi also denied Americans' claim to "have democracy," saying he believed the "real America" exists among Black and foreign prisoners. uncertain

America → deny → prisoners

"You don’t have democracy. asserted

You → have → democracy

It’s a lie," Farhadi said. asserted

Farhadi → ’ → ?

Fox News Digital reached out to Farhadi's and Affleck's representatives for comment. asserted

Digital → reach → comment

Media Research Center President David Bozell called out Farhadi's negative view of America and American films in a comment to Fox News Digital. asserted

Bozell → call → Digital

"America was asked to save the world, and we did, not once, but twice. asserted

we → ask → world

And we’re always preparing to do it again, if we’re asked to, at a moment’s notice. asserted

we → prepare → notice

Maybe Hollywood makes movies about Americans saving the world for a reason," Bozell said. asserted

Bozell → make → reason

Iranian director decries Hollywood portrayal of foreign countries, calls American democracy 'a lie'

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