ARGO REVEALS THE OP THAT GOT 6 AMERICANS OUT OF TEHRAN IN 2009
The seizure of the American Embassy in Tehran during 1979 by Iranian militants and the detention of 52 personnel for 444 days is well known. But, for those who have no memory of the event, Argo begins with an explanation. What was kept secret until President Clinton declassified the story in 1997 is that six Americans escaped to the Canadian Embassy, where they awaited rescue or worse. When the Canadian government informs Washington of their plight, plans are discussed at the CIA for their rescue, but they are immediately rejected by Tony Mendez (played by Ben Affleck), who earlier had escorted officials close to the Shah out of the country. Then a complicated if crazy idea emerges. Why not pretend that he and the six are part of a film crew in Tehran to shoot background scenes for a sci-fi movie? Mendez goes to Hollywood to get someone to agree to produce and direct the fake film. Sifting through script proposals, Mendez finds the script for “Argo,” and soon Hollywood is on board, generating publicity that is picked up by a film tabloid. The next step is issuance of a visa for Mendez to enter Iran, approval to film from the Iranian government, and training for the Americans to pretend they are there on business. One day they go filming, and the next day they are to depart Tehran on Swiss Air. That’s the outline of the plot, but the film is really about processes – how the CIA decided, how Hollywood professionals took the bait and generated cover, how Mendez entered Iran, how the six were trained, and the most suspenseful if untrue* part of the film – how they exited the airport in Tehran, step by step, and nearly were caught. As credits roll, several titles explain more background information, photos of the six in real life are on the screen, and there is a voiceover by former President Jimmy Carter. Directed by Affleck, Argo has been nominated for an award as best film exposé of 2011. MH
*http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/10/18/the-true-spy-story-behind-argo has the true story.
WAR OF THE BUTTONS DENUDES THE FRIVOLITY OF VIOLENCE
The aphorism “Boys will be boys” is used to justify misconduct, often when a leader imposes groupthink, goading his peers to misbehave. War of the Buttons (La guerre des boutons), directed by Yann Samuell, plays out that theme in wartime Vichy (1944), though the film is the fourth adaptation of the 1912 novel by Louis Pergaud. When boys from Veltrans poach in the territory of Langeverne, the stage is set for an escalation of violence among boys aged 7-14. Langeverne wins the first battle, capturing a Veltran, who is held down for punishment. Langeverne leader Lebrac (played by Vincent Bres) then brandishes a knife but only removes buttons from the boy’s clothing, whereupon he is released and has to hold up his pants with his hands as he runs home. Now the “war” is on, and buttons are the spoils. Meanwhile, an attractive girl suddenly appears as a guest of the town’s fine clothing store operator. Lebrac flirts, and soon the two are dating. One family, presumably Jewish, is removed from the town as the boys look on without comment. She finally admits to Lebrac that she is Jewish, but she is outed by someone else (whom I cannot divulge or else I spoil much of the story), whereupon the girl and her protector move to a safe house nearby. Family conflict between Lebrac and his father Simon (played by Fred Testot) is an important part of the story, including Lebrac’s discovery toward the end of the film that his father is involved in the Resistance. The outing crisis serves to bring the leaders of both gangs together, so presumably the war is over. The delightful coming-of-age War of the Buttons is reminiscent of Political Film Society prizewinning The War (1994), which involved American children learning that peaceful relations are more fulfilling than petty conflict. Accordingly, the Political Film Society has nominated War of the Buttons as best film on peace of 2012. MH