Watch Our Man in Tehran

Our Man in Tehran is a gripping documentary film that tells the story of a successful CIA operation in the midst of the Iranian revolution of the late 1970s. The film, which was released in 2013, is directed by Drew Taylor and Larry Weinstein and stars Assadollah Alam, Bob Anders, and Jimmy Carter. The film is built around an extensive interview with Bob Anders, a former CIA officer who played a key role in the rescue of six American embassy staff members who were taken hostage by militant Iranian students in 1979. The mission was carried out under the guise of a Canadian film crew scouting locations for a science fiction movie, which gave the CIA team an excuse to enter Iran and move around the country without arousing suspicion.

The story of the mission, known as "Operation Hollywood," unfolds like a spy thriller, with Anders and his colleagues posing as filmmakers while they scouted locations, found a house to use as a base of operations, and forged contacts with Iranian government officials who could help them execute the rescue. The operation was also supported by the Canadian government, which provided cover for the CIA team and helped smuggle the hostages out of the country.

The filmmakers use a mix of archival footage and interviews with key players to tell the story of the operation and its importance in the larger context of the Iranian revolution. The film is particularly successful in capturing the tension and danger of the rescue mission, as well as the stark contrast between the opulence of pre-revolutionary Iran and the chaos and violence that erupted after the fall of the Shah.

In addition to recounting the details of the operation, the film also explores the political factors that led to the hostage crisis in the first place. The Iranian revolution was a complex and multifaceted event, and the film does a good job of placing the hostage crisis within its larger historical context.

One of the most striking aspects of Our Man in Tehran is the way it highlights the bravery and resourcefulness of the CIA officers who executed the operation. Anders, in particular, comes across as a smart, capable, and dedicated agent who was willing to put his life on the line to save his colleagues. The film also shows how the relationship between the CIA and the Canadian government was instrumental in the success of the mission, and how the two countries were able to work together to achieve a common goal.

Overall, Our Man in Tehran is a compelling and thought-provoking film that sheds new light on a little-known chapter of history. By focusing on the heroic actions of a small group of people who risked everything to save others, the film underscores the importance of courage, ingenuity, and cooperation in even the most challenging circumstances.

Our Man in Tehran is a 2015 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4 and a MetaScore of 58.