Posted on 09/15/2004 3:00:52 PM PDT by Conservative Coulter Fan
TEHRAN (AFP) - Cinemagoers in the Iranian capital were given their first glimpse of 'Fahrenheit 9/11' this week, but appeared to enjoy more the rare chance to watch an American movie than its assault on their regime's arch foe George W. Bush.
Michael Moore's Bush-bashing polemic may have cruised through Iran's unforgiving censors thanks to its indictment of US policy, but the premiere of the film also had the side effect of making some viewers relate the same questioning to their own state of affairs.
"The authorities obviously gave the film the green light for political reasons, in that anything against the United States must be good," quipped one of the hundreds of mainly young people who flocked to Tuesday night's opening screening.
The prize-winning documentary has been allowed out on release here to coincide with the third anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States -- which kicked off a chain of events that has seen Iran surrounded by US troops and lumped into an "axis of evil".
"They are showing this film to erase from our minds the idea that America is the great saviour," said Hirad Harandian, another cinemagoer at the uptown Farhang cinema.
The hall is one of only two cinemas in the country to be screening 'Fahrenheit 9/11'.
On Tuesday night the film was sold out and the theatre packed with close to 380 people, most of them young. Many admitted they were just out to watch an American film, and not that one in particular.
"I love to see foreign films on the big screen, and I never miss Farhang cinema shows no matter what is on," said Sima Gharavi, a 24-year-old dressed in a short bright blue coat rather than the more conservative all-black attire.
But she hastened to complain that "out of all the films people would love to see, the authorities had to go for this one -- just because this film is in line with the view of the Islamic regime."
And despite sporadic laughs here and there, most of Moore's sardonic humour appeared to fall flat. The end of the film was also greeted with some half-hearted clapping.
"The problem is the subtitles," said Sogol Zand, an English teacher. "The jokes are not as funny."
Others, obviously out for a rare taste of Hollywood entertainment, disagreed.
"It was just too political. I was bored from the middle, and I wished we had gone to see "Kill Bill" instead," said one young man, referring to the trendy Quentin Tarantino flick also being shown.
But those of the older generation appeared to relate well to the film, which succeeded in sparking some vigorous after-show chatter.
"I saw it as an Iranian who has also lived in America," said Kourosh Amini, a man in his 50s.
"It perfectly depicted the realities of American life, and they have to learn what war really looks like."
And even though his twenty-something son quipped in to say he was "disappointed" by the film and asserted "politics is not as important" for Iran's younger generation, he did envy Moore's position.
"It sure is a great country, where someone like Moore trashes the president and gets away with it -- and makes so much money!" he laughed.
Another woman said she was impressed with the scene where Moore chases US congressmen to ask them if they would send their children to Iraq (news - web sites).
"How many top officials here sent their offspring to fight in the Iran-Iraq war?" asked the woman, one of several who directed their frustrations at Iranian authorities -- and not President Bush (news - web sites).
I'll bet the biggest laugh was the Iraqi kite flying paradise scene.
"Out of all the films people would love to see, the authorities had to go for this one -- just because this film is in line with the view of the Islamic regime."If you were a terrorist, whom would you vote for? Not George Bush--that's for sure!
"It was just too political. I was bored from the middle."No doubt! Propaganda is just plain boring.
"'It sure is a great country, where someone like Moore trashes the president and gets away with it -- and makes so much money!' he laughed."Yes, President Bush agrees. That's why he did nothing to stop this silly movie--in contrast to Sen. Kerry, who did everything imaginable to silence the Swifties.
YEP!!! Spread the word! Democrats message is the same as the Iranian Govt!!
Telling, isn't it?
If we/they could just get rid of the mullahs, we'd probably have no greater friend in the middle east than Iran.
Iran ping
I hope word gets out among our fellow Americans... This puts America in a horrible light, and the lib scumbags don't see a problem with it... It's feeding the Arab world with propoganda and BS
Okay, good ole Michael has got to be proud. Now he can fan the fires in Iran and only hope that now Iranian terrorists come over and try to eliminate the great satan. Good job you idiot...
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