Iranium (2011)

directed by Alex Traiman

narrated by Shohreh Aghdashloo

This documentary left me with far more questions than answers. Traiman's portrait of modern Iran follows the development of its nuclear program, ending with a call to action for America. "Failure is not an option," they beckon. America is called a "paper tiger" of a threat. Nuclear annihilation appears imminent. If we do not assert our strength, we are told, no one will stand to stop them.

Except their own internal rebellions, maybe. But these altercations are only touched upon; they don't fit the narrative that compares modern Iran with the rise of Nazi Germany in the 1930's.

Don't get me wrong, Iran's ruling Islamist (the fundamental, political incarnation of Islam) culture is absolutely nuts and its actions tragic and deplorable. It's about the best argument for the separation of church and state that I've ever come across. But it's tempting to paint the relationship between Iran and America with the broad strokes of storytelling, and this is not a simple story. Iran is divided. America is historically inconsistent in its actions and its views towards Iran and the rest of the Middle East. Even as these voices warn of a nuclear threat and unavoidable conflict, a researched woman at the screening argued that Iran's program is not nearly so advanced and it is not, currently, seen as a ruling power in the region. It's no wonder America's official response is similarly inconclusive.

I don't like the practice of comparing our society to a dystopian fiction. Before the film even started, I was denouncing the narcissistic practice to my grandmother. But still, as I watched this movie and tried to juggle its argument with the others I have heard, I was reminded of one of the theses of Huxley's Brave New World: it is not the withholding of information that will condemn us, but an overload, coming at as from all sides with differing opinions and mismatched facts.