Onze man in Teheran (2015)

A solar eclipse brought Dutch journalist Thomas Erdbrink to Iran years ago. Now he is married to Irian photographer Newsha Tavakolian, a strong and independent woman. Thomas is one of the few western journalists in a country that seems to be constantly in conflict with the rest of the world. In 'Onze Man in Teheran' (our man in Teheran) Thomas' life is shown as a computer game: constantly filled with pitfalls and dangers, in a country where nothing is what it seems. Erdbrink, who speaks Persian fluently, goes beyond the usual stereotypes of angry bearded men and women clad in black and shows a unique portrait of the modern Iran, where women are often in charge en where you can buy your way out of an execution. It took the production team years to get permission to follow Erdbrink in his work and personal life in Iran. The result is unprecedented access to a complicated country where society seems to be characterized by unrest and uncertainty, even though compared to it's neighbors Iraq and Afghanistan, Iran is still a relatively peaceful oasis. The second season was aired three years later, in 2018. Again Thomas Erdbrink takes the viewer back to Iran where he has been working and living for sixteen years. Iran reopened international trade relations, and the moderate Rohani won the elections. But behind the scenes, there is still a fierce power struggle between reformers and religious hardliners. Normal Iranians are becoming tired of this. They are making their own changes happen.