Decadece & Downfall
Politics
•
1h 16m
In 1971, the Shah of Iran, the self-proclaimed 'king of kings', celebrated 2,500 years of the Persian monarchy by throwing the greatest party in history. Money was no object - a lavish tent city, using 37km of silk, was erected in a specially creeated oasis. The world's top restaurant at the time, Maxim's, closed its doors for two week to cater the event, a five-course banquet served to over sixty of the world's kings, queens and presidents, and washed down with some of the rarest wines known to man. Over a decedent five -day period, guests were treated to a pageant of thousands of soldiers dressed in ancinet Persian costime, a 'son et lumiere' at the foot of Darius the Great's temple, and the opening of the Azadi Tower in Tehran, designed to honor the Shah himself. Every party leaves a few hangovers. This one left a country reeling, never to recover. It crystallized the opposition, led by the Ayatollah Khomeini. More than any other event, this party marked the break between the king of kings and the people of Iran he reigned over.
Up Next in Politics
-
Dances With The Wind
‘Fury Dance’ is a story about a Korean protest dancer, Sam-hun Lee. He fought for the democratization of South Korea in the ‘80’s through dance, while giving up his own dream to become a ballerino. The film takes the viewer through prominent events in South Korean history, as Sam-hun dances to so...
-
DIY Country
In Spring 2014, armed pro-Russian rebels stormed the city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. After seizing control of the city, the separatists held a referendum - labelled illegal by the US and EU - and independence from Kiev was declared. This brave documentary explores the origins and evolution of...
-
Postcard From Afghanistan
Comedian Mike King faces a stand-up gig like none other when asked to perform for American troops based in Afghanistan. King also meets with Kiwi soldiers situated in Kabul, Bagram, and Bamyan and talks about how they are helping rebuild and provide security in the war-torn country. During his jo...
