Holding up a Mirror: Film About Shah to Show Iran in Positive Light

Over the last 35 years, since Iran’s Islamic Revolution put an end to the last Persian dynasty, there have been a handful of high profile Hollywood films depicting Iran in what the Iranian government has viewed as a negative light. The forthcoming film Shah, currently in production, aims to present Iran somewhat more positively. Will it be a chance for Western cinema to redeem itself – however slightly – in the eyes of the Iranian government?

Shah will look at the last monarch of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, and the direct cause and effect of his polices on the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Mena CineFinance, a production house with operations in Los Angeles and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has teamed up with Gateway Films to make the film. For producer and managing director of Mena CineFinance Michelle Nicolson, it’s important to look at the story from neither a pro-or anti-Shah stance, but rather to see what happened for what it was: an extremely complex series of unfolding events involving a huge cast of players with different agendas and perspectives.

Sir Ben Kingsley will star in the leading role, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi.

IranWire spoke to Michelle Nicholson about the motivation behind the film and what the filmmakers hope to achieve.

How did the initial idea for the film come about?

It started in 2007; I had contacted director Oliver Stone about shooting a documentary on President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Oliver was doing a series of documentaries about other international leaders and this was of interest to him. I met some of the people  (by phone and email), who dealt with film and culture in Iran and started there.

I was invited to go to Iran as a guest to the NAM Alternative Film Festival in September 2012. That was such an amazing trip for me. Not only from the film aspect, and all the great people I was finally able to put names to faces with, but also from an overall perspective of Iran. I kept thinking: what would be a way to showcase Iran in a positive light? To get the attention of a world audience, you need something that is either controversial, a disaster, or someone who triumphs against the odds.

Shah is an international story. It does not matter if you like or dislike him, he is a historical figure and his story – and that of his relationship with the US and UK – is the perfect story. It has intrigue, suspense, love, and betrayal at the highest level. Winston Churchill said that "history is written by the victors" and one's view of the Shah story really depends on what side of the fence you were on. The man he was to his family is different than the man he was to others, and this complex situation, and what happened with US and Iranian relations after his departure from power, still has an effect today.

Iran's Ministry of Culture invited your crew to film at one of the Shah's old palaces in Tehran. How did that invitation come about?

We have several associates who are advisors to us in Iran. When I was there, we went to the Shah's Palace in Tehran to have a look. Unfortunately it was closed due to the NAM Conference, but we did get a chance to see the outside. The beauty of the location gave me the idea that, if at all possible, Shah needs to have some scenes there. One of our associates asked on my behalf. The word came back that with certain guidelines [including agreeing to show the script to the ministry], yes, I could do it.

How has the Ministry of Culture responded to the project?

We always work through Iranians in the country who are involved with the project, as I feel that this is the best way to do things. I met several of the people involved with the Ministry of Culture while I was there. The storyline will not be negative about Iran, so I don't think the script will be an issue. We are also planning on shooting a documentary while there, which will show Iran today. I think it's a great way to get an understanding of what's going on.

How will your film be different than the Oscar-winning film Argo?

Argo had a completely different storyline. The Shah’s policies and his relationship with the US was a factor in the revolution; it's a direct cause-and-effect situation. When people in the West wonder why the situation with Iran today exists, they need to hold up a mirror. It’s a direct effect of the US administration's role at the time the Shah was in power, which was also a very tumultuous time in US history. Within a decade, there was the opening of both the USSR and China to the US, the Watergate scandal and the resignation of a US President (and his subsequent presidential pardon), the end of the Vietnam War and the Iranian Revolution. Americans went from the excitement of what had been accomplished with Russia and China to despair over Watergate and a war that cost a lot of lives and money and accomplished nothing. If you cannot trust the leader of your country, then what do you do? This spilled over into the US relationships in foreign countries. As for the hostage situation, it is a brief moment in the story. It was important, as it defined how the US reacted to Iran, but it is not the focus of the story we are telling. 

After the idea for the film gathered steam, how did Sir Ben Kingsley, together with Chris Howard and Terry Stone from Gateway Films, come into the picture?

I know Kingsley professionally and feel that he could be the only person who could play Shah and show the complexity of the character. I was introduced to Chris and Terry from Gateway Films through an investment banker in Dubai. I would like to see the project as a UK production, and they run a very efficient production house.

How far along is the script for Shah and is there a certain direction you are going with it?

We are currently speaking to a writer we really feel is best for the project, and once he has signed on, we will make that public. The story is not a biopic, it is a political thriller, so it comes from a different angle.

Sir Ben Kingsley has played an Iranian character in three previous films, Crash, The House of Sand and Fog and The Physician. Why did you want him to take on the role of the Shah?

I feel he is one of the best actors currently working. He can play any character, and will be able to pull off someone like the Shah, and not make it feel fake. There will be a really great scene, based on a firsthand experience, where we will understand the huge disconnect within him. It will be done is such a way that we’ll feel empathy for the character because we can understand him. It takes a great actor to pull that off.

What was your overall opinion about traveling to Iran? Can you describe a few memories from your visit?

The trip was amazing, it was my first time. I was there for two weeks, mostly in Tehran. We did make an overnight trip to Boroujerd to visit the Aria Animation Studios. That was a lot of fun. We hired a bus, as there were several of us, and it was rather like when you are in college and decide to do a road trip at the last moment. The bus was rather old and had no air conditioning, and we would stop every so often to look around.

A very moving moment for me was when we went to visit a Jewish synagogue in Tehran. They had just finished a meeting and everyone was so excited that an American had come to visit. I was invited to go and pray with them, it was very touching. To be involved in something that is deeply personal to these people, and I being a complete stranger to them, was pretty overwhelming.

We took the city bus most places, and it was great to be out on the street. When I would speak to my friends, people would look at me. So many times people would then walk up and ask me if I was an American and then be delighted to stand and chat for a moment. It was really amazing that the people on the street were so interested in why I was there. I have a lot of Iranian friends in the UAE and US and know their penchant for hospitality. But to get this treatment, and it being very genuine, from strangers, that was something I will always remember.

Are you familiar with Iranian cinema?

Yes. I like the storytelling aspect, the stories are well written. The Iranians have quite a history of filmmaking as well as storytelling and it shows. I also like the look of Iranian Cinema. The films remind me of older films, they don't have the digital edge to them. I think with most story- driven films, the lighting that one associates with an older style of filmmaking, makes for a really good visual experience.

Many aspects regarding the history of US-Iranian relations are hyper-sensitive. How do you plan on filming with an awareness to these sensitivities while still remaining objective?

In a film like Shah, there will be people who will probably not be happy with the story. Especially now that a lot of information about that time has been declassified, it's pretty amazing what you find out. To the people that revered the Shah, it may seem disrespectful, as he had his faults and foibles like everyone else, and these will be brought out in the story. To the people that despised the Shah, they will probably feel we are not exposing enough. But I think we can tell a compelling story that everyone will find interesting.