The Northman's Vengeance: Echoes of an Iranian Exile's Wrath

 

By Bobby Darvish, Iranian-American Ex-Muslim, Former Vegan, Former Democrat, Former Socialist, Former CAIR-Columbus Executive Director, Former Muslim Forum of Utah President, Former Pagan, Christian Conservative LDS 

As I watched "The Northman," the visceral tale of a Viking prince's quest to avenge his father's murder resonated with a deeply personal anguish. Like Amleth, the protagonist driven by a relentless thirst for vengeance, many of us in the Iranian exile community harbor a seething wrath against the Islamic Republic of Iran. This regime, a cruel usurper of our homeland's dignity, echoes the betrayal Amleth suffered.

The movie's raw depiction of vengeance reflects what many Iranian exiles feel towards the regime that forced our symbolic father, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, into a grievous exile, ultimately leading to his demise in Egypt. This loss is not merely political but profoundly personal, as it mirrors the story of my own family—marked by tragedy, resistance, and exile. My uncle was killed by the regime; the men in my family were subjected to torture and imprisonment. My father, too, died in exile, a fate shared by the Shah, both stripped of their homeland by the same despotic forces.

The Islamic Republic, much like the antagonists in "The Northman," has not only usurped power but has attempted to erase the rich tapestry of Iran’s pre-Islamic heritage, replacing it with a narrative steeped in fundamentalism and authoritarianism. This narrative does not resonate with the Iran that once was—an Iran of cultural richness, of the Safavid Dynasty from which I descend, an Iran whose memory still courses through the veins of its scattered sons and daughters across the globe.

This movie, therefore, is not just a tale of ancient revenge; it is a mirror reflecting the ongoing struggle of the Iranian people. The thirst for retribution against the Mullahs—who hold Iran hostage under the guise of religious piety—is a response to decades of tyranny and sorrow.

As an Iranian-American Lord of Safavid lineage, an ex-Muslim who has embraced the teachings of Christianity and the values of the Western world, I see "The Northman" as more than entertainment. It is a cathartic expression of the collective desire for liberation among Iranian exiles. We seek justice for the wrongs inflicted upon our families, our heritage, and our nation. We yearn for the day when Iran will be freed from the clutches of theocrats, allowing its people to reclaim their history and identity, much as Amleth sought to reclaim his honor and rightful place.

Our narrative is one of loss and longing, of exile and endurance. It is a story that deserves to be told, understood, and remembered, not just by those of us who live it but by anyone who values freedom and justice.

References:

• "The Northman" directed by Robert Eggers, 2022. Film.
• Biography of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Encyclopædia Britannica.
• History of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Council on Foreign Relations.
• Personal narratives and histories from the Iranian diaspora community (author's personal accounts).