The discussion over Iran’s reaction to the film ‘300′ is pertinent for several reasons, namely because it shows Iran’s own duplicity over how to react to American films with respect to their own productions.  As Steven Stalinsky has already pointed out, it is rather ironic Iran accuses ‘300′ of demonizing Persians while their own film productions have no other value than to demonize Iran’s opposition.

But in the heart of the matter, the Iranian government’s reaction to the film was one that argued Hollywood was an extension of the Bush Administration’s public relations machine and that a film regarding a battle waged thousands of years ago has modern day implications.

The state-run media outlet IRINN was openly hostile towards ‘300′ and called the film a production of the Zionist Warner Brothers company, which apparently is run by “the American Jew.”  I see Joooos everywhere (cue 1950s horror music).  IRINN postured, “this film tries to paint a violent image of Persians who are against peace in today’s world, in order to increase the international political pressure on Iran.”

It would seem to me IRINN in particular would reject any message within American movies and disregard any symbolism the movies might have.  And here I just watch movies to be entertained.  But then there’s this report compiled by John of Satellite News where he records and translates an Iranian report on IRINN on the benefits of American movies and the actors when it suits Iran’s objectives.

Moderator: Bush never imagined that even an unpretentious low-budget film would become so connected to his political life or that his dreams would turn into cinematic nightmares.

The film is “Mystic River” made by Clint Eastwood in 2003, and was nominated for an Oscar for best director. Sean Penn and Tim Robbins won Oscars as Best actor and best supporting actor, and shortly afterwards all three of them became the first opponents of Bush’s policies.

Clint Eastwood said American democracy in Iraq was broken. Tim Robbins said Bush’s war had caused the deaths of thousands of Americans and called for his resignation.

However throughout these years Sean Penn has been the most vocal Bush opponent among his fellow cast members in “Mystic River.” He has traveled to Iraq several times and went to Iran in the spring of 2005.

Film critic Seyyed Mostaghani: When he returned to America I went to my home at the hotel and saw they they had called me and said Sean Penn is in Iran, and all of these American media did not know that he had returned to America or how to convey the news to the world.

Mystic River was not exactly a low-budget production, spending an estimated $30 million to film and edit.  Aside from that, Tim Robbins has always been a critic of anything Republican, and the news of Sean Penn’s travels to both Iraq and Iran were well publicized.  It’s just that no one actually cared.