Argo: A Canadian story, which they stole

Step into Ben Affleck’s Argo: where historical facts take a back seat, but American-centrism sits front and center. In 2013, Piers Morgan sat down with Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States. Among other things, they discussed the newly released film Argo, a historical thriller depicting the rescue of six American diplomats during the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979. While many would anticipate the former commander-in-chief to sing praises for the film and the heroic portrayals of the American participation, Carter took the time to set the record straight and give some of the credit back to the Canucks. 

Morgan: “You’ve seen ‘Argo,’ I take it? How accurate is it from your memory?”

Carter: “It’s a great drama. The other thing that I would say was that ninety percent of the contributions to the ideas and the consummation of the plan was Canadian.”

Jimmy Carter Discussing “Argo” and Iranian Hostage Crisis

In the twenty years following the mission's completion, Carter’s administration opted to keep the story quiet in the name of national security and Canada had received essentially all of the credit. So to be fair, until the details were declassified in 1997, the history books didn't exactly paint the most historically accurate picture either. But that’s not to diminish the many historical liberties Ben Affleck took when putting together Argo – particularly at the expense of underplaying the Canadian hero’s central to the story, which Carter called “a complete distortion of what happened.” As a Canadian passionate about foreign policy, history, and filmmaking, there are a few egregious distortions of the actual events that must be highlighted

Canadian Misrepresentation.

Here are some of my quarrels with the films portrayal of the events:

The Role of Ken Taylor (or lack thereof)

Ken Taylor, the former Canadian ambassador to Iran, was particularly snubbed into a supporting role in the re-telling. Despite being awarded 122 citations and awards for the rescue, including the Congressional Gold Medal by Ronald Reagan in 1981 for his heroism, in the film, you would have no idea.  In an interview, the former ambassador proclaimed “I’m not feeling offended… I just think they didn’t want to be bothered with the fact

Ken Taylor, meeting with journalists outside the Canadian Embassy in Paris (AP Photo/File) and Victor Garber’s Portrayal in Argo (Argo, 2012)

Unjustified Accusations

In the film, Taylor is shown as having been ordered to close down the Canadian embassy. This did not happen, and the Canadians never considered abandoning the six Americans who had taken refuge under their protection. 

Instead, the historical documents tell a much different, albeit more generous and less dramatic telling of the events. Once Taylor heard news of the Americans in hiding, without any hesitation recommended to Ottawa that they be given shelter. Almost immediately after, the Americans were hosted in Taylor’s residence along with another Canadian Embassy family for the next 79 days. It was the Canadian’s in Tehran that risked their lives hosting the Americans and working with discretion and skill creating the Americans' ingenious escape. It was the Canadians who issued fake Canadian passports, credit cards, business cards, and took flights to study airport procedures, all the while the Americans demonstrated “they’re the best-read and most skilled Scrabble players in all of North America” – according to Reagan. 

While I can understand the accusation was central to the dramatic arc of the story and led to the final chase scene through the airport, this retelling of history does a severe injustice to the courage of the Canadians central to this escape.

Suspenseful but Wholly Inaccurate Plane Escape Scene (Argo, 2012)

The Hilariously Exaggerated American Role, Underplayed Canadian Role

It is no surprise that Affect, who directed and acts as the film’s main character; the C.I.A Officer Antonio Mendez, overplayed his historical involvement.

Mendez was only in Iran for a day and a half, whereas the Canadians played an instrumental, and sometimes boring role for over three months. The film despite Mendez providing the Canadian passports and identities. Yet, once Mendez arrived in Tehran, he “was totally in the hands of the Canadians. His involvement over the weekend was not much.. Just some visa stamps. Ottawa had provided everything else.”

History tells a starkly different story of the Iranian Hostage Crisis, however, the film is a thriller, and I doubt an accurate historical telling (starring Canadian diplomats) would sell as well at American box offices.

Ben Affleck starring as C.I.A Operative Antonio ‘Tony’ Mendez (Argo, 2012)

To the masses and to the critics alike (it won Best Picture at the Oscars in 2012), Argo is an exciting portrayal of a once relatively unknown story of the CIA and Hollywood forces working together to pull off an unbelievable rescue. But for the central Canadian heroes who were neglected in the film, Argo is a faulty adaptation of their story.

If you want to be entertained, you’ll have a blast. Even Taylor admitted “it’s a thrilling movie.” But if you want to learn about the nuances of the Canadian involvement in this historical episode – save yourself some time and sit this one out and check out the 2013 investigative documentary “Our Man in Tehran”.

I may be a contrarian for this review, but for its historical inaccuracy, portrayal of Iranian civilians, and American centrism, I give Argo four Ken Taylor’s awesome glasses out of ten.