Passing reference in "Argo" rankles New Zealand

This film image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Bryan Cranston, left, as Jack O'Donnell and Ben Affleck as Tony Mendez in "Argo," a rescue thriller about the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis. / AP Photo/Warner Bros.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand Thirteen minutes into the movie, CIA agent Tony Mendez asks supervisor Jack O'Donnell what happened to a group of Americans when the U.S. Embassy was stormed in Tehran.

"The six of them went out a back exit," O'Donnell tells Mendez, played by Ben Affleck. "Brits turned them away. Kiwis turned them away. Canadians took them in."

That's the only mention of New Zealand in "Argo," but it is rankling Kiwis five months after the Oscar-winning film was released in the South Pacific nation. Even Parliament has expressed its dismay, passing a motion stating that Affleck, who also directed the movie, "saw fit to mislead the world about what actually happened."

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The real "Argo"

New Zealand joins a list of other countries that have felt slighted by the fictionalized account of how a group of Americans was furtively sheltered and secreted out of Iran during the 1979 Islamic Revolution. But nations such as Iran and Canada were much larger participants in the historical event the movie depicts.

The strong reaction in New Zealand indicates the country remains insecure about its own culture, said Steve Matthewman, an associate professor of sociology at the University of Auckland. People are prone to bouts of unwarranted outrage when somebody from abroad says something bad about the country, he said, and simpering enjoyment when they say something good.

"It's touched a really raw nerve," Matthewman said. "We do seem in New Zealand to be oversensitive to how the rest of the world perceives us."

The movie's New Zealand reference may not be totally fair but has an element of truth.

Some in New Zealand have taken those words -- "Kiwis turned them away" -- as implying the country did nothing to help. Published interviews indicate that diplomats from Britain and New Zealand did help by briefly sheltering the Americans, visiting them and bringing them food, even driving them to the airport when they left.

Yet those interviews also indicate that both countries considered it too risky to shelter the Americans for long. That left the Canadians shouldering the biggest risk by taking them in.

Lawmaker Winston Peters, who brought last week's uncontested motion before Parliament, said New Zealanders are unfairly portrayed as "a bunch of cowards," an impression that would be given to millions who watch the movie.

"It's a diabolical misrepresentation of the acts of courage and bravery, done at significant risk to themselves, by New Zealand diplomats," he said.

During Oscar media interviews last month, Affleck told reporters: "Let me just start by saying I love New Zealand, and I love New Zealanders." He added that "I think that it's tricky. You walk a fine line. You are doing a historical movie and naturally you have to make some creative choices about how you are going to condense this into a three-act structure."

Affleck could not be reached for comment this week.

Matthewman said the reference may have provoked New Zealanders because the country prides itself on being generous and hospitable. People have a reputation for doing things like picking up hitchhikers and inviting them into their homes for a week, he said.

Small countries like New Zealand that are far from the world's centers of power are often shaped by bigger countries like the U.S. and often look to them for affirmation, Matthewman said. It's interesting to note the different reaction Affleck got in Britain, Matthewman said, which was arguably equally maligned in the movie.

"They give the guy a BAFTA in Britain and bash him in New Zealand," he said, referring to the best director prize Affleck won at the British Academy Film Awards.

Some in Britain, however, have criticized "Argo's" reference to that country, and some in Canada are upset the CIA gets credit at the expense of the Canadians, a claim backed by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. And Iran is planning to sue Hollywood for the movie's alleged "unrealistic portrayal" of that country, according to Iranian media reports.

Yet while Iran and Canada are central parts of the movie, the New Zealand reference could easily be missed -- at least by outsiders.

Patrick Gower, the political editor for TV3, one of two main television news stations in New Zealand, wrote in a blog that Affleck should apologize after he "deliberately slammed" the country.

"Some people will say I'm being oversensitive here," he wrote. "But in my opinion, what Affleck has done just isn't right."

The controversy was not reflected in box-office receipts. "Argo" has done well in New Zealand, earning just over $1 million. As of this week, the film has earned $92.3 million internationally and $135 million in North America.

National carrier Air New Zealand has even extended an olive branch to Affleck by offering to fly him to the country as its guest. Airline spokeswoman Marie Hosking said this week it has yet to hear back from him.

Prime Minister John Key, meanwhile, has tried to sound a note of reason.

"New Zealand, I think, sees itself as a country that always wants to lend a hand to help people," he told reporters recently. "But in the end, this is Hollywood, and they do make movies. And a bit like when they transfer a book to a movie, often it's a little bit different. So, look, I think we've made our point and we should probably move on."

But the country doesn't seem ready to move on quite yet.

[michael0004]

To my foreign (non-US)friends. You never met me and you don't know me so you're showing your ignorance making statements about me or any other U.S citizen that you have not met. On the other hand, my experience with the New Zealanders in Wellington in 1971 that I had contact with is fact, not opinion. Too bad if you don't like it. Have a nice life.

[mitch0927]

Just because a film says something about a particular country doesn't mean the whole country is like that. It was horrible times in 1979 in Iran, and the actions of some people at that time doesn't say that NZ is like that now. Who cares anyway? The Americans have been depicted as a horrible nation in a lot of countries, are we sitting on our butts being little cry babies over it?

[Canuck42]

It's too bad that movie makers don't fictionalize everything in America's favour. The CIA agent portrayed in the movie was only in Iran for one and a half days. If it wasn't for the Canadian embassy the Americans would have had their behinds in real trouble. Another example, in the movie, The Great Escape, Steve McQueen, played the part of an American prisoner invilved in the plot to get out. In reality there was not a single American in that prison. Go figure!!!

[erasmus111]

From reading comments on here for 7 years, I've found that a good many Americans think they are the only ones that do anything.

To hear them talk, they are the only ones helping other countries.

During the Haiti crisis there were people whining about how they were the only ones helping. Giving aid and money. I told them if they were to do a bit of research, they would find that there were many other countries giving aid and money.

Of course we have to realize that Americans don't learn about other countries in school. It's all about themselves. Sooo, I guess we can't really expect things to change when they become adults, huh?

[HM8432]

Not that Hollywood is known for accurately depicting historical events, but the question remains, WHY didn't NZ shelter those Americans like the Canadians did, especially when they hit-up their consulate before them? The Kiwi's are deserving of the shout-out they got in Argo.

[mitch0927]

YAWWWWWWNNNN.....

[michael0004]

In 1971 while in the U.S. Navy, our ship visited Wellington, New Zealand. We spent 3 days there. On day 1 and day 2, every New Zealander we met either ignored us completely, treated us rudely, or were very curt like they wanted us to go away. On day 3, several of us were in a local restaurant/bar having a drink. 3 young ladies at the table next to us began to talk to us and joined us at our table. I commented to them that in 3 days they were the first New Zealanders that were in any way friendly to us. They responded: "We're not New Zealanders, we're from Australia. And don't take it personally, because New Zealanders don't care for Australians either." These Australian girls attributed it to New Zealanders being jealous of Americans and Australians, giving the example that we needed to spend our New Zealand money in New Zealand because it wasn't worth much anywhere else at that time, unlike U.S. or Australian money.

I can't say that New Zealanders are that way now 42 years later, but from my personal experience, that's the way they were in 1971, at least that's the way they were in Wellington.

[erasmus111]

"I can't say that New Zealanders are that way now 42 years later..."


42 years later,.....it's the rest of the world! : )

No offense, but the rest of the world thinks you are ARROGANT ass es. When we (Canadians) travel to Europe, we are told to wear a Canadian pin, or something showing we are Canadian, because otherwise we won't be treated nice.

[michael0004]

No offense taken. But my experience is fact. Yours is simply an opinon. But opinions are like something else we all have.

[presseyr]

I live in NZ and I haven't heard about this until I read it on cbsnews. Even if they had heard of it 99.99% of people in NZ wouldn't care. Read who's in the aritcle, blow hard politico's that no one listens to anyway looking for anything that will give them some news time. This is the biggest non news I've seen in years.

[Jim1900]

I think the Iranian lawsuit against Hollywood is a great opportunity to see what they think a realistic portrayal of their country should be.

[caljack430]

Oh my goodness people. its a freaking movie. Chill OUT. Yeah sure, it was 'based on real events'. But any sane person isn't going around shunning people from New Zealand because 'your embassy didn't help in ARGO!' Most people probably didn't even CATCH THE REFERENCE.

[filmguy107]

word!