Escape From Iran: The Hollywood Option

On November 4, 1979, the American embassy in Tehran, Iran was overrun by radical Islamic students demanding that Shah Reza Pahlevi, the exiled former ruler of Iran, be returned to Iran for trial. Over 60 Americans were bound, blindfolded, and held hostage in a crisis which dragged on for 444 days. Incredibly, in the chaotic initial hours of the siege five Americans escaped and eventually made their way to the Canadian embassy, where they were joined by a sixth American. The situation quickly proved dangerous and plans were made to smuggle these six out of the country, as Canadian diplomats (helped by the CIA) settled on what became known as the "Hollywood option." Chris Triffo's Escape From Iran revisits this farfetched but courageous scenario, which involved a cover story claiming that the Americans were Canadian filmmakers caught in Iran while scouting locations (a bogus production company was quickly created, complete with fake resumes and movie credits). While the American "houseguests" nervously waited, delicate diplomatic maneuvering under deep cover proceeded between Washington D.C. and Ottawa. Building to a climax worthy of a John Le Carré novel—after three months in hiding, the six Americans made their way through the Tehran airport to freedom—the film combines archival footage with new interviews, as Canadian and American diplomats and escapees recall a half-forgotten but heroic chapter in international cooperation. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)