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Synopsis
While making a documentary about the CIA/MI6 coup in Iran in 1953, Iranian director Taghi Amirani and editor Walter Murch (Apocalypse Now, The Conversation, The English Patient) discover never seen before archive material hidden for decades. The 16mm footage and documents not only allow the filmmakers to tell the story of the overthrow of the Iranian government in unprecedented detail but also leads to explosive revelations about dark secrets buried for 67 years. Working with Ralph Fiennes (The Grand Budapest Hotel, Schindler’s List, The English Patient) to help bring the lost material to life, what begins as a historical documentary about four days in August 1953 turns into a live investigation, taking the filmmakers into uncharted cinematic waters. The roots of Iran's volatile relationship with America and Britain has never been so forensically and dramatically exposed.
REVIEWS
100% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes
The film’s editor is Walter Murch, who worked on “The Conversation” and “The Godfather: Part II” (both 1974) so there’s not much that he doesn’t know about conspiracy — how it leaks into a movie like the smell of drains.
Anthony Lane – The New Yorker
It is without question one of the greatest of all documentaries. Apart from its importance as a revelatory history lesson, it’s a masterpiece of humanity, thoroughness, and consummate film craft.
Mike Leigh - Winner of the Palme d'Or
This powerful and authoritative documentary by the Iranian filmmaker Taghi Amirani is as gripping as any thriller
Peter Bradshaw – The Guardian
One of the best documentaries of recent years.
Michael Moore
Ralph Fiennes appears, lending a wry le Carré air to proceedings as an enigmatic MI6 agent with an explosive testimony.
Larushka Ivan-Zadeh - The Times
Amazing. Beautifully done. Clever use of archive. Unique.
Oliver Stone
A labour of love, the film is premium detective work. With admirable tenacity and care, Amirani has dragged official secrets back into the light
Tim Robey – The Daily Telegraph
This is big. This is going to be big.
Werner Herzog
It’s like taking a swim in John le Carré’s brain
Dave Calhoun - Time Out
Extraordinary.
Errol Morris
As compelling as a John le Carré novel or a Costa-Gavras classic
Allen Hunter - Screen Daily
Has the air of something that grew from an impudent home movie into a magnum opus
Todd McCarthy - Hollywood Reporter
Both as a detective story and as a deep dive into a world event whose consequences linger, it is bracing, absorbing filmmaking
Ben Kenigsberg - New York Times
It has a bit of “All the President’s Men” about it
Ian Freer - EMPIRE
Simply great storytelling, full stop.
Anne Hornaday - Washington Post
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Old secrets cast long shadows
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