Society of the Just (video)

This British video for television made in late 1986 provides a first-hand look at politics in Iran. The tape shows soldiers preparing for war, the parliament, the Iraqi government-in-exile, a few street scenes, and interviews with Iranians. But this is not a general view of life under the ayatollah: almost every picture bears directly on politics. The interviews and the voice-over share one crippling weakness that makes the film unsuitable for college class use (or for general US audiences): both assume every Iranian supports Khomeini's radical schemes and ignores the widespread opposition to his authority. The video portrays suicide martyrs, financial contributions volunteered for the war, intense dedication to the government ideology-and never even hints that very many Iranians reject the whole enterprise of the Islamic Republic. This naiveté recalls filmmakers who went to the Soviet Union in the mid-1920's and found a whole population enthusiastically accepting communism. It renders the film little more than propaganda for the Khomeinists.