Desert One is a 2019 American documentary film directed and produced by Barbara Kopple. It follows Operation Eagle Claw, a mission that was an attempt to end the Iran hostage crisis by rescuing 52 embassy staff held hostage.
| Desert One | |
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 Official poster | |
| Directed by | Barbara Kopple |
| Written by | Francisco Bello |
| Produced by |
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| Cinematography |
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| Edited by |
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| Music by | Wendy Blackstone |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Greenwich Entertainment |
Release dates |
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Running time | 107 minutes |
| Country | United States |
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The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2019. It was released on August 21, 2020, by Greenwich Entertainment.
Synopsis
editThe film follows Operation Eagle Claw, a mission that was an attempt to end the Iran hostage crisis by rescuing 52 embassy staff held hostage at the Embassy of the United States, Tehran. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Walter Mondale, Ted Koppel, David Aaron, Mahmoud Abedini, Robert Gates, Wade Ishimoto, John Limbert, and former hostage-takers and hostages appear in the film.[1]
Release
editThe film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2019.[2] It also screened at DOC NYC on November 8, 2019,[3] and the AFI Fest on November 18, 2019.[4] In April 2020, Greenwich Entertainment acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film.[5] It was released on August 21, 2020.[6]
Reception
editDesert One received positive reviews from film critics. It holds an 88% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 50 reviews, with an average of 8/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Comprehensive without getting bogged down in details, Desert One offers a fascinating look at a daring military mission that ended in defeat."[7] On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 80 out of 100, based on 13 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[8]
References
edit- ^ Hanson, Kait (May 1, 2020). "40 years later, a documentary tells the story of Desert One: Delta Force's ill-fated Operation Eagle Claw". We Are the Mighty. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ "Desert One". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ "Desert One". DOC NYC. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ "Desert One". AFI Fest. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ Day-Ramos, Dino (April 24, 2020). "Greenwich Entertainment Acquires Barbara Kopple Docu 'Desert One' From History". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ "Watch Trailer For 'Desert One' Available Friday, August 21st". RedCarpetCrash. July 24, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ "Desert One (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ "Desert One". Metacritic. Retrieved February 8, 2021.