Director: Ben Affleck
Writers: Chris Terrio (screenplay), Joshuah Bearman(article)
Stars: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan
Arkin, and John Goodman
Let’s
start with a bit of history via Wikipedia:
Main article: Canadian Caper
On the day the hostages were seized, six American diplomats evaded
capture and remained in hiding at the Swedish and Canadian embassies.
In 1979, the Canadian Parliament held a secret session
for the first time since World War II in order to pass special legislation
allowing Canadian passports to be issued to some American citizens so that
they could escape. In cooperation with the Central Intelligence Agency who used
the cover story of a film project, the six American diplomats boarded a flight
to Zürich, Switzerland,
on January 28, 1980. Their escape and rescue from Iran by Canadian ambassador Ken Taylor has
come to be known as the "Canadian Caper".[90]The
subject of the six escapees and what went into the planning and execution was
also covered in the 2012 film Argo,
directed by Ben Affleck.
I liked two aspects of this movie—a lot!
First, I appreciated the pacing. The movie begins with a down-‘n-dirty catch-you-up-to-speed
history of why the Iranians took the hostages in the first place. Frankly, for a good reason. The US harbored an overthrown dictator who
brutally murdered many innocent Iranians over the course of his rule. The US put him in power and protected him
after he was deposed. We hear about all
of this while we’re watching what look like comic book illustrations. I was puzzled. But later in the movie I’m watching, the ARGO
“movie” fake story boards were produced; and I realized that Argo is portraying history as a manufactured,
staged event. I confess that there’s a
scene in Argo that wonders if the riots
are media-staged events. OK back to my
pacing tribute. Argo alternates between tension and whimsy, between the reality of
the hostages /US government/Iranian situations and the farce of Hollywood movie
making and makers. “Argo fuck yourself”
is repeated several times and directed not just at the Iranians but at bureaucrats
and other annoying folks. So easily, this movie could have propagandized
the Iran hostage situation. Instead, it
suggests that while terrorism appalls, it also confuses and entertains us. How many times can we watch on our
flat-screen LCDs thousands of people chanting in a foreign language we don’t
understand, in an animated fashion similar to Olympic opening ceremonies? How many times can we rally around leaders
who promise not to "impose additional sanctions” and refrain
from making “hostile statements” while applauding an insurgence of American
patriotism as a result of terrorism? Argo
reminds us that while real people endure real torture, others are
manipulating the atrocity for political and personal gain.
Second, I
am attracted to Tony Mendez’s code. When
the US government decides to abort the mission, Mendez is supposed to abandon
the 6 hostages, regardless of the promises he’s made to them and the work he’s
done with them. After a night of serious
alcohol consumption, Mendez decides to call the US and alert them that he’s
responsible for the hostages and going to try to get them out. “Responsible” is a word he uses more than
once and it stands out beyond a sense of duty, which I associate with my “should”
list. For Mendez, it’s neither what he
should do or wants to do. It’s what he must do.
It’s clear to him why he is responsible.
(Of course, there’s also a bit of “Argo fuck yourself” to his CIA superiors.) It is Mendez’s sense of responsibility that
saves his hostages and returns him to his estranged family. The mission details stay classified until he
is old, and Canada enjoys the credit. So
no glory or reward for Mendez. In fact, he sits alone on the airplane flying to
Zurich while the hostages swill champagne and high-five each other. Only one has the decency to thank him. Thereafter, they enjoy media acclaim while
Mendez is awarded a medal that is immediately revoked.
Responsibility
without fame or payoff. When was the
last Hollywood movie that featured that code?
Kudos to Affleck as Argo’s
director.
