Iran Demands Apology for The Wrestler

Iran demands an apology from Hollywood for "The Wrestler" and "300". Yes, Hollywood has sent a delegation to Iran.

Without an apology, members of Iran's film industry should refuse to meet with representatives from the nine-member team, said Javad Shamaqdari, the art and cinema adviser to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
"In my viewpoint, it is a failure to have an official meeting with one who is insulting," he said.

The film "300," portrays the battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C., in which a force of 300 Spartans held off a massive Persian army at a mountain pass in Greece for three days. It angered many Iranians for the way Persians are depicted as decadent, sexually flamboyant and evil in contrast to the noble Greeks.
Iranians also criticised "The Wrestler" starring Mickey Rourke as a rundown professional wrestler who is preparing for a rematch with his old nemesis 'The Ayatollah'.

During a fight scene, "The Ayatollah" tries to choke Rourke with an Iranian flag before Rourke pulls the flagpole away, breaks it and throws it into the cheering crowd.

While American actors such as Sean Penn have travelled to Iran, it is rare for such a large group to visit. In February, Iran denied visas to a U.S. women's badminton team that had been invited to compete in a tournament in Iran.

Those dangerous racket-wielding women. Meanwhile, Iran is knifing students in the streets. Hey Hollywood that's the reality show in Iran. But avert your eyes, the show must go on:

The visits come as President Barack Obama has indicated a new willingness to open up relations with Iran.