During an era of heightened tensions due to terrorist activities worldwide, there has been
controversy about whether there is an ethical responsibility by Hollywood to offer accurate portrayals of real life events, as seen with Jessica Chastain's role in "Zero Dark Thirty." New controversy has now arisen around the movie Argo. Jack Losh has reported on March 12, 2013, for The Sun, Iran ‘to sue Hollywood over Argo’.
Reports say that Iranian officials are planning to sue Hollywood over the Oscar-winning film Argo, because they believe the movie offers an “unrealistic portrayal” of their country. At this time it is said French lawyer Isabelle Coutant-Peyre is in Iran for talks with the government over the lawsuit. Coutant-Peyre is famous for having defended notorious terrorist Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, who was also known as Carlos the Jackal. This move followed a screening of the film by Iranian cultural officials and movie critics in a closed audience in a Tehran theater late last evening.
Iranian officials have dismissed director Ben Affleck's film as pro-CIA, anti-Iran propaganda. Although Argo has not appeared officially in Iran, there has been a lot of talk about the film which has been sold on pirate DVDs in the country. This story is based on the real-life escape of six American hostages from the besieged US Embassy in Tehran in 1979. City Council member Masoomeh Ebtekar, who was one of the students who took part in the occupation at that time, has said that the film exaggerates the violence among crowds who stormed the compound.
The Hollywood Reporter has also reported on the controversy surrounding Argo, Iran Considering Lawsuit Over Oscar Winner 'Argo'. It has been confirmed that the Iranian government is planning to sue Hollywood over the Oscar-winning movie Argo, with accusations the film gives an "unrealistic portrayal" of their country. It has not yet been made clear whether Warner Bros., Ben Affleck or other parties associated with the film would be the target of such a lawsuit. The Iranian Mehr news agency has said the film's Oscar for Best Picture was "politically motivated" because it was co-presented from the White House by First Lady Michelle Obama.
