THE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE PARTY

Cinemavixion Review

In 1971, the Shah of Iran, seeking to cement his image as the 'king of kings', orchestrated an event of unparalleled extravagance: the celebration of 2,500 years of the Persian monarchy. This documentary, directed by Hassan Amini, delves into the opulent affair, where a tent city crafted from 37 kilometers of silk was erected in a desert oasis. The renowned Maxim's of Paris shuttered for two weeks to cater a five-course banquet for over sixty global monarchs and heads of state, accompanied by rare vintages. Over five days, attendees witnessed a grand pageant of soldiers in ancient Persian attire, a 'son et Lumiere' spectacle at Darius the Great's temple, and the inauguration of Tehran's Azadi Tower, a monument to the Shah's reign. While a spectacle of immense wealth, the film highlights how this 'world's most expensive party' inadvertently galvanized opposition, particularly under Ayatollah Khomeini, and marked a profound disconnect between the Shah and his people, a divergence from which Iran would never recover.