Julie Ershadi on Argo and The Iran Job

Judging a historically-themed film based on its factual adherence is usually an exercise in futility, write Julie Ershadi, but Ben Affleck's Argo deserves special examination. Its wide release coincides with, and may capitalize on, an upswing in anti-Iranian, pro-war sentiment among Americans; as such, the film has a special responsibility to give a fair representation of the truth. It does not fulfill that responsibility.

The Iran Job, on the other hand, a new documentary following Kevin Sheppard, a basketball player from the U.S. Virgin Islands, as he prepares to play a season on southern Iran's A.S. Shiraz team, offers a more nuanced and realistic portrait of Iran and its people.