![who played xerxes in the movie 300 who played xerxes in the movie 300](https://images.indulgexpress.com/uploads/user/ckeditor_images/article/2018/7/5/Rodrigo_Santoro_-_300_(1).jpg)
Queenan also notes that history is written by the victor, in this case the Greeks, who have elevated the story to the level of myth. The Greeks are seen as noble defenders of Western culture, while the invading Persians are seen as decadent, irrational, and barbarous, with King Xerxes receiving a particularly unflattering portrait.īut U.S.-based film critic Joe Queenan questions the need for so much fuss over "300." He told RFE/RL that the film is merely "ridiculous," with its comic-book style and likeness to a video game. It's the portrayal of the two warring sides that has caused the antagonism. The film sticks closely to the account given by ancient historians, including Herodotus, a Greek. In the end, through an act of Greek treachery, King Xerxes' army was able to surround the Spartans, who were all killed, along with their leader, King Leonidas. Repeatedly the Persians attacked, only to be thrown back with heavy casualties.
![who played xerxes in the movie 300 who played xerxes in the movie 300](http://www.todayifoundout.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/sparta.jpg)
Thermopylae is a narrow pass between the mountains and the sea, where the sheer numbers of the Persians was to no advantage. "300" tells the story of the battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC, when 300 Greek Spartans were able for three days to block the advance of a Persian army numbering in the hundreds of thousands. The film is proving something of a hit among the public, taking in $70 million in its first week. They say it is a fictional work with the sole purpose of entertaining audiences. film distributors, Warner Brothers, deny that "300" is deliberately meant to disparage any culture. They say the authorities are provoking nationalistic feelings to get Iranians to rally in support of the government at a time when the Islamic republic is under international pressure over its nuclear program. Some observers believe the Iranian government is exploiting the anger over the Hollywood production to advance its own political agenda. But when I saw how they are portraying King Xerxes, I was shocked and thought, why are they giving such a picture of a great person?" "When I watched the movie's trailer and some parts of it, first I didn't understand it because it was very weird. "It's very important for me not to remain silent, particularly about issues that are very sensitive in my view, and national honor and prestige are among them," Mitra Farokhzad, an Iranian living in the U.S. MORE: Coverage in Persian from Radio Farda. "Sparta was a slave society, so the whole idea of them being upholders of democracy is kind of ridiculous," one film critic told RFE/RL.