环球英语 — 299：A Love Story from Iran

　　Voice 1
Hello. I’m Ruby¹ Jones.
Voice 2
And I’m Rachel Hobson. Welcome to Spotlight². This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 3
‘Habib’
Voice 4
‘Yes’
Voice 3
‘I want you to keep this. When I was ten years old, my father gave it to me. And he said I should only give it to the man who very much...’
Voice 4
‘Very much what?’
Voice 1
These are the words from an Iranian television series. Sarah and Habib are falling in love. Sarah gives her father’s watch to Habib. When he opens the watch cover, there is a picture of her. Habib is a Palestinian-Iranian. And Sarah is a French Jew. Much of the story takes place in France during World War Two. Under Hitler the Nazis³ have occupied France. They are looking for Jews. They take the Jews away to be killed. But Habib tries to protect Sarah and her family. The television series is called ‘Zero Degree Turn’.
Voice 2
In today’s Spotlight we tell more of ‘Zero Degree Turn’. We tell of the ideas behind it. Can a television series help to create better understanding between Muslims and Jews?
Voice 1
Usually night time in Iran is very busy. People eat in restaurants. They sit and talk in cafes. But for seven months, Monday nights in Iran were very quiet. By ten o’clock almost no one was on the streets. Most people were sitting at home with their families. They had come together to watch television! They were excited to see the next part of ‘Zero Degree Turn’.
Voice 2
In the story, Habib’s father is from Iran. And his mother is from Palestine. The family has some political connections. So Habib gets permission to go to Paris. He is very excited. But Habib goes to Europe during dangerous times. He does not know how much his life will change.
Voice 1
Habib is accepted into university in Paris. In class he meets the beautiful young woman called Sarah. At first they do not like each other. But Sarah and Habib start to understand that in many ways they are very similar. The two become friends. And soon they feel more than friendship for each other.
Voice 2
Habib gets a job at the Iranian Embassy⁴ in Paris to help pay for his education. But around this time, the Nazis invade⁵ France. As they occupy Paris, problems start for Jews there. Jews are required to wear yellow stars on their clothes. The Nazis make them leave their homes. They put them in trucks. They are taking them away to kill them.
Voice 1
Habib is worried about Sarah. He thinks of a way he can help her and her family. Since he works⁶ for the embassy, he gets Iranian passports for them. He helps them to leave France for Iran. It is illegal for Habib to do this. So Habib is put in prison.
Voice 2
Finally Habib is permitted to return to Iran. But he is put in jail⁷ there too, for the false passports. Sarah also experiences many difficulties. But the love between the two remains⁸ strong.
Voice 1
‘Zero Degree Turn’ is the most expensive television series ever made in Iran. It was filmed in Iran, Paris and Hungary. Hassan Fatthi wrote and directed the series. He is a famous television film director. His work is respected all over the world. Four years ago Mr. Fatthi was reading books about World War Two. He read something very interesting. During World War Two an Iranian embassy official in Paris helped to save many Jews. Abdol Hussein Sardari made many false Iranian passports to help Jews escape. This story gave Mr. Fatthi the idea for ‘Zero Degree Turn’.
Voice 2
Some people are very surprised that this series was made in Iran. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has publicly told his beliefs about World War Two. He denies millions of Jews were killed then. Yet this film tells the story of Jews in World War two.
Voice 1
In Iran directors must get government approval⁹ before they can make films. The government in Iran is a religious one. It has policies on the kinds of films that can be made. The films must not go against Muslim ideas or rules. The films should not criticize¹⁰ the government. The official policy of Iran is that it opposes the state of Israel. But it does not oppose Jewish¹¹ people. So, the government approved this television series. And it even gave a lot of money to help make it.
Voice 2
Critics of the government suggest there is a hidden purpose for the television series - to soften¹² the image of Iran to the international community. They believe the government wants to show that Iran does not have a problem with Jews. They say the series shows why millions of Jews left Europe. But it also supports the opinion that the state of Israel should not exist.
Voice 1
Other people believe it does not matter what the purpose of the television series is. They say it is helping¹³ to create understanding between Jews and Muslims. Sara Khatibi is a woman who enjoyed the series very much. She said:
Voice 5
‘All we ever hear about Jews is anger from the government about Israel. This is the first time we are seeing another side to the story and learning¹⁴ about their troubles.’
Voice 2
There are 25,000 Jews living in Iran. This is the largest number of Jews in the Middle East except for Israel. The Iranian constitution promises equal rights to Jews. They are permitted to study in Hebrew schools and follow their religion. The Jewish community is also permitted to have one member in the Muslim Parliament¹⁵. They must be careful, though, not to anger the government.
Voice 1
For the most part, the Jewish community in Iran likes the television series very much. Before making it, Mr. Fatthi, the series’ director, met with the Iranian Jewish Association¹⁶. He wanted to be sure he was showing Jewish traditions correctly. This group has openly praised the series. And Mr. Fatthi has told of his hopes to bring understanding between communities with his television series. He has talked about his purpose for making it. He has talked about his desire for peace.
Voice 6
‘What is a endangering peace is extremist thinking, and political hard-liners that separate people from each other. God created people to love each other regardless of religion. The days that God is very happy are the days that people from different cultures embrace¹⁷ each other.’
Voice 2
‘Zero Degree Turn’ has become one of the most popular television series in Iran ever. Other countries are interested in broadcasting it too. This television series is creating worldwide interest. It is helping to bring different people together.
 

1 ruby   

n.红宝石，红宝石色

参考例句：

• She is wearing a small ruby earring.她戴着一枚红宝石小耳环。
• On the handle of his sword sat the biggest ruby in the world.他的剑柄上镶有一颗世上最大的红宝石。

2 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

3 Nazis   

n.（德国的）纳粹党员( Nazi的名词复数 )；纳粹主义

参考例句：

• The Nazis worked them over with gun butts. 纳粹分子用枪托毒打他们。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Nazis were responsible for the mass murder of Jews during World War Ⅱ. 纳粹必须为第二次世界大战中对犹太人的大屠杀负责。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 embassy   

n.大使馆，大使及其随员

参考例句：

• Large crowd demonstrated outside the British Embassy.很多群众在英国大使馆外面示威。
• He's a U.S. diplomat assigned to the embassy in London.他是美国驻伦敦大使馆的一名外交官。

5 invade   

v.侵略，侵犯；闯入，侵扰

参考例句：

• I don't want to invade your private life unnecessarily.我不想过多地干涉你的私生活。
• He ordered the army to invade at dawn.他命令军队在拂晓入侵。

6 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

7 jail   

n.监狱，看守所；vt.监禁，拘留

参考例句：

• The castle had been used as a jail.这城堡曾用作监狱。
• If she carries on shoplifting,she'll end up in jail.她如果还在店铺里偷东西，最终会被抓进监狱的。

8 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

9 approval   

n.赞成，同意；批准，认可

参考例句：

• The audience has expressed its approval.观众已经认可。
• The teacher signed his approval.老师做了手势表示同意。

10 criticize   

vt.批评；批判，指责；评论，评价

参考例句：

• Whenever you criticize him,he always has an excuse.你批评他，他总有说头儿。
• You are free to criticize my work.你可以随意批评我的工作。

11 Jewish   

adj.犹太人的，犹太民族的

参考例句：

• The coin bears a Jewish symbol.硬币上有犹太标记。
• They were two Jewish kids;I was friendly with both of them.他们是两个犹太小孩；我同他们都很要好。

12 soften   

v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和

参考例句：

• Plastics will soften when exposed to heat.塑料适当加热就可以软化。
• This special cream will help to soften up our skin.这种特殊的护肤霜有助于使皮肤变得柔软。

13 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

14 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

15 Parliament   

n.议会，国会

参考例句：

• She won a seat in Parliament at the election.她在选举中赢得了议会中的席位。
• The drug was banned by an act of parliament.议会的法案明令禁止该药品。

16 association   

n.联盟，协会，社团；交往，联合；联想

参考例句：

• Our long association with your company has brought great benefits.我方和贵公司的长期合作带来了巨大的利益。
• I broke away from the association ten years ago.我10年前就脱离了那个团体。

17 embrace   

vt.拥抱；包括；包围，环绕；n.拥抱，怀抱

参考例句：

• He held her to him in a warm embrace.他热列地拥抱她。
• The hills embrace the village.山丘环绕着村庄。