Customer Reviews

Rick Steves' Iran DVD

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This timely DVD, not yet available directly from Amazon as I write this, is on Rick Steve's website for [...]. It should be required viewing by all US government personnel dealing with Iran, especially those with little understanding, tolerance, or empathy.

The main feature of "Rick Steves' Iran" is a one-hour man-on-the-street type of travel documentary. It has been shown on many PBS stations throughout the US and received much acclaim.

The DVD also contains a lecture by Steves not shown on PBS in which Steves shares his personal impressions, and a not-to-be-missed and illuminating interview with his Iranian Guide, a Mr. Seyed Rahim Bathaei. Bathaei deals forthrightly with issues such as his reaction to Bush's "Evil Empire" accusation, the impact of US sanctions on the average Iranian, and Iranian reaction to US government support for Israel v. Palestine - 'like a parent treating 2 children differently, standing by the favored chosen one and watching while it abuses and tries to kill the helpless other.' What to do?

The DVD bonus features are worth the [...] price of the Rick Steves' Iran DVD.

I've been a fan of Rick Steves for many years (I always use his guidebooks when traveling, download his podcasts and rent his DVDs). I'm also a huge fan of Iran's rich cultural tapestry and have had several Iranian acquaintances over the years. So when I saw on Rick's blog that he was filming a one-hour special on Iran, I rushed over to Hulu to watch it. Rick takes you on a journey from Iran's metropolitan capital Tehran to Abyaneh, Esfahan, Shiraz and Persepolis.

The opening shot of Tehran's buildings silhouetted against the smog-shrouded Alborz Mountains is carried by a breathy nay and santur soundtrack. The colors of Tehran's streets are crisp and bright, a stark contrast to the women gliding silently by in black chadors. I loved the portraits of everyday Iranians that showcased the complexity of Iran's cultural heritage: in addition to Persians, there are Greek, Arab, Turkish, Mongol, and Azerbaijani descendents. Rick makes sure to point out that Iranians are NOT Arabs, and they don't speak Arabic. The national language is Farsi (also spoken in neighboring Afghanistan, where it is called Dari). Although Farsi uses a modified Arabic script with several letters not found in Arabic (p, ch, zhe, and g), Farsi is a completely separate language with a rich literary tradition. As Iran is a Muslim country, it also uses two separate calendars: the Hijri calendar, and the Western calendar for business affairs.

Rick's objective eye captures the seeming contradictions in modern Iran: enforced modesty for women means that hair must be covered, yet high fashion and plastic surgery are equally visible. He's respectful at religious sites such as the tomb of Ruhollah Khomeini and the mosque at Esfahan, and makes an effort to be a polite guest. Jum'ah prayers were eye-opening: soldiers are both among the worshippers, and standing guard to prevent violence (because this was filmed and produced in 2008, there is no mention of the recent massive protests following the June 2009 elections). Rick also gives a mini-history lesson into Iran's tumultuous modern history, with archival footage of Iran's young oilfields, the last Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Prime Minister Mohammed Mosaddeq. As an American, it was curious to see the Supreme Leader's (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) likeness everywhere rather than the president's. Steves also doesn't shy away from the fading "Death to America" murals in front of the American Embassy. The sheer number of these propaganda murals is staggering. Yet young Iranians (more than half of the country's population of 70 million is under 30) seem generally pleased to make contact and to practice their English, even if some shy away from the camera. The young university students (most of the ones speaking on camera are women) are surprisingly eloquent as they try to express their views on Iran's government and its attitude towards the West.

Rick's willingness to understand modern Iran on its own terms is a rewarding journey; smiles are rewarded at every turn, from dusty ancient villages to the modern hustle and bustle of Tehran. We're invited into a middle class family's home for an elaborate dinner. As Steves notes, "Maybe we're all just struggling to defend the moral fabric of our respective societies. I've been wondering to what extent US-Iran tensions might be explained by caring people on both sides motivated by love and fear. And the flip side of fear is understanding. I came to Iran a little nervous. I leave impressed by more what we have in common than by our differences."

After seeing a portion of this on TV, I ordered the DVD so I can see the program in its entirety. Glad I did. What a great way to connect with another part of the world............

Some 90 millions Iranians, mostly under 30, forging a new nation. Beautiful places and people. Thankfully Rick has pushed his boundaries far outside Western Europe, caring his quaint charm to embrace Persia. Special overview and DVD.