Decadence and Downfall: The Shah of Iran's Ultimate Party

In 1971, the Shah of Iran throws a gigantic celebration for 2500 years of the Persian monarchy. He invites all the leaders and royals of the world. He proclaims himself "King of Kings" in the reflected light of the admired biblical king, Cyrus the Great. No expenses are spared creating a tent encampment in the middle of the desert. In reality, his country is a brutal police state. His policy of social liberalization faces opposition. There are water issues and poverty. The lavish spending galvanizes the opposition eventually leading to him leaving Iran in 1979 and the takeover by Khomeini establishing a revolutionary Islamic state.

This is a BBC documentary about an important world history event. Sometimes the event itself is examined. Most of the time, it is about the Americans in the event. Usually, the cause of the event is declared as a given. This one actually spends time looking at one of the causes. While this does not impart any new information to me, it does put pictures to the knowledge. It is easy to see the isolated elitism at the top of the hierarchy. My hot take is that he's one of those newly rich who throws big parties to show that he fits in his snooty rich lavish circle. It's so happens that his circle is the top circle. It is more important to be admired by his peers than to be admired by his people. By this time, he is surrounded by yes men that he doesn't know the feelings of his people. Sadly, he is all too common in that power corrupts.