Representation of Iran’s Nuclear Program in the Cinema of the 2010s with an Emphasis on the Political Discourse of the Rouhani Administration: A Case Study of The Bodyguard
Subject Areas : Iranian Sociological Review
1 - Ph.D. Student in Communication Sciences, University of Tehran, Iran
Keywords: Nuclear Program, Moderation Discourse, Iranian Cinema, Scientist Assassinations, Revolutionary Values,
Abstract :
Post-revolutionary Iranian cinema in the 2010s, notably The Bodyguard (2016) by Ebrahim Hatamikia, reflects the political and social concerns of the era, shaped by the Rouhani administration’s “Government of Prudence and Hope” and nuclear negotiations. The film focuses on the 2008–2010 assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists by Western powers, particularly Israel and the United States, portraying these events as symbols of resistance against external threats to Iran’s nuclear program. It critiques the Rouhani administration’s diplomacy-focused discourse of moderation, which some viewed as neglecting national assets and revolutionary ideals. Through characters like a nuclear scientist and a loyal bodyguard, the film underscores the importance of scientific independence and critiques the marginalization of revolutionary values. Using a structuralist semiotic approach and Fiske’s codes, this study analyzes the film’s semantic and ideological layers, revealing how it highlights national concerns, critiques diplomatic policies, and emphasizes the sacrifices of scientific elites. The Bodyguard portrays the tension between diplomacy and resistance, reflecting on political decision-making complexities and advocating for the preservation of revolutionary ideals and national priorities in the face of external pressures. As a cultural text, it underscores the role of Sacred Defense cinema in critiquing power and addressing Iran’s political and social challenges.
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