Hajji Washington
Encyclopedia
Hajji Washington is an Iran
ian comedy/drama film directed by Ali Hatami
. The film recounts the story of Iran's first ambassador Haji Washington
to the United States.
The movie finished production in 1982, but was not publicly screened in Iran until 1998. The movie was filmed in Italy
(filling in for Washington, D.C.
) and Ghazali Cinematic Mini-City in Iran
.
during the time of President Andrew Johnson
to serve as Iran's ambassador
. Once in America Hajji hires a number of employees but soon finds himself missing his family and finding his work unrewarding considering there are very few Iranians in America at the time.
Hajji Hossein-Gholi Noori is sent to the United States, then under the presidency of Grover Cleveland
, to open up the first embassy for Iran by Nasir al-Din Shah Qajar. He is sent there with one helper on this mission and soon hires three workers to maintain the embassy. It doesn't take long for him to realize that there is no real work for him there and he is forced to quit his staff and allow his helper to attend medical school in Washington D.C. Although most of the first meeting of Hajji and the President is comical, the overall tone of the film is rather elegic in nature.
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian comedy/drama film directed by Ali Hatami
Ali Hatami
Ali Hatami was an Iranian film director, screenwriter, art Director and costume designer.-Background:Graduated in cinema from Faculty of Dramatic Arts, his debut was Hasan Kachal , the first Iranian musical film...
. The film recounts the story of Iran's first ambassador Haji Washington
Haji Washington
Haji Hossein-Gholi khan Noori , also known as Haji Washington , was an Iranian politician, cabinet minister, and diplomat.- Early life and education :...
to the United States.
The movie finished production in 1982, but was not publicly screened in Iran until 1998. The movie was filmed in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
(filling in for Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
) and Ghazali Cinematic Mini-City in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
.
Plot
Hajji Hossein-Gholi Noori, an influential Qajar politician is sent by Nasereddin Shah to the United States of AmericaUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
during the time of President Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
to serve as Iran's ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
. Once in America Hajji hires a number of employees but soon finds himself missing his family and finding his work unrewarding considering there are very few Iranians in America at the time.
Hajji Hossein-Gholi Noori is sent to the United States, then under the presidency of Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
, to open up the first embassy for Iran by Nasir al-Din Shah Qajar. He is sent there with one helper on this mission and soon hires three workers to maintain the embassy. It doesn't take long for him to realize that there is no real work for him there and he is forced to quit his staff and allow his helper to attend medical school in Washington D.C. Although most of the first meeting of Hajji and the President is comical, the overall tone of the film is rather elegic in nature.