'Fahrenheit 9/11' gets 'axis of evil' premiere

[mrmatas2277]

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).

[mindfaqd]

Michael Moore is a bleeding heart liberal piece of shit who should be castrated and hung out for the public to see.

[missionary]

Michael Moore is a bleeding heart liberal piece of shit who should be castrated and hung out for the public to see.

because.... he has an opinion.... ??

[mindfaqd]

because.... he has an opinion.... ??

no because he skews the truth to demonstrate his oppinion. He also deliberately makes the president of our United States look like an ass. This shows weakness to other countries. Do we need that ? If ur gonna make a movie, don't do it from a point of bias.

[chris817]

no because he skews the truth to demonstrate his oppinion. He also deliberately makes the president of our United States look like an ass. This shows weakness to other countries. Do we need that ? If ur gonna make a movie, don't do it from a point of bias.

let me first say i have seen the movie, but by no means do i take it as the truth. It brings up some interisting points but is not gospel.

The bush campaign skews the truth to favor them all the time. The rest of the world did not need this movie to confirm in their opinion that Bush is an ASS.

They hated him long before farenheit 911 came out

[mindfaqd]

let me first say i have seen the movie, but by no means do i take it as the truth. It brings up some interisting points but is not gospel.

The bush campaign skews the truth to favor them all the time. The rest of the world did not need this movie to confirm in their opinion that Bush is an ASS.

They hated him long before farenheit 911 came out

That is true, but ALL politicians skew the truth. Its in the job description.

Michael Moore is not a politician, who the fuck is he to twist the truth? If this were any other country he would be taken out and shot !

[chris817]

That is true, but ALL politicians skew the truth. Its in the job description.

Michael Moore is not a politician, who the fuck is he to twist the truth? If this were any other country he would be taken out and shot !

what country would he be shot in?

[mindfaqd]

what country would he be shot in?

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm lets see, the one we just liberated ?

[funwithtreason]

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm lets see, the one we just liberated ?

Even though you wish they could do the same to him in the United States of Duh??

[chris817]

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm lets see, the one we just liberated ?

I thought that was the reason we liberated them?

[xpyrate]

He also deliberately makes the president of our United States look like an ass.

bush doesn't need any "bleed heart pinko liberal" to do that, he does that himself

[mindfaqd]

I can see I'm badly outnumbered by the pansy liberals around here.

[chris817]

I can see I'm badly outnumbered by the pansy liberals around here.

na outnumbered by intelligence

[mindfaqd]

na outnumbered by intelligence

I have a 140 IQ. I don't think its intelligence buddy.

[chris817]

I have a 140 IQ. I don't think its intelligence buddy.

So b/c of that we should bow down and agree with everything you say?

[mindfaqd]

So b/c of that we should bow down and agree with everything you say?

Not a bad idea. j/k I was just saying I am not outnumbered by ur intelligence. I did not say it should sway ur opinion.

[xpyrate]

I have a 140 IQ. I don't think its intelligence buddy.

uuhhh .. taking THIS test doesn't count as a real IQ test

[funwithtreason]

I have a 140 IQ. I don't think its intelligence buddy.

Having an IQ of 140 does not prove intelligence, in fact any IQ doesn't prove such. Only common sense does.

[mindfaqd]

uuhhh .. taking THIS test doesn't count as a real IQ test

thats not where i took it. thanks.

[mindfaqd]

Having an IQ of 140 does not prove intelligence, in fact any IQ doesn't prove such. Only common sense does.

I have plenty of that too. Thats why I am not backing a flip floping liberal piece of shit like Kerry. U may not like where Bush stands but at least u know where he stands.