This American film depicts one of Iran’s key modernization projects with the building of the Karadj Dam in the years 1957-1961. This Film is shared by an American youtube blogger ( thor2k) whose father helped build the dam.
Part I:
Part II:
Part III:
Description:
This film depicts one of Iran’s key modernization projects with the building of the Karadj Dam in the years 1957-1961.
Our father, the only American visible in the film, had described its production to me during my youth, but he had never seen it. For his birthday in 1982, I had contacted the Morrison-Knudsen company in Boise, Idaho to see if it remained in their archives. A very kind and knowledgeable person there not only remembered the film, but offered to convert it from the original 16mm film stock to (then common) VHS format.
It reflects, with its dated images and focus on the “mechanics” of dam construction and the then popularity of hydro-electric power generation, a much different time. It seems odd, given our childhood memories of living in Iran, how our respective governments could have come so far from active cooperation to aggressive conflict.
In any event, I recall the Iranian people as being kind and respectful and generous and excited about their future. I suspect – and hope – that remains.
