Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's six-year ordeal in an Iranian jail has left her husband Richard "extremely petrified" - a feeling that resonates deeply with him after his own experience playing the role of the man who fought tirelessly for his wife's release.
In 2016, Nazanin, a dual national, was arrested on spying charges while separated from her two-year-old daughter and accused of attempting to overthrow the Iranian regime. The case sounded "fanciful" to many, including those in the Iranian diaspora, who were aware that there was no truth to the made-up reasons for her arrest.
As the UK navigated Brexit and new leadership, Richard Ratcliffe held a press conference with 780,000 signatures on a petition for his wife's release. The Foreign Office was involved in "murky meetings" where civil servants suggested that Nazanin should lay low to avoid disrupting the safety of her family and the Iranian regime's interests.
However, it wasn't until former PM David Cameron received a letter urging his intervention that things began to move forward. Theresa May took over as prime minister soon after, while Boris Johnson became foreign secretary - an appointment marked by disastrous remarks about Nazanin's alleged role in teaching people journalism.
The BBC drama Prisoner 951 brings this story to life with Narges Rashidi playing the lead role of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. Rashidi drew heavily from her own experience as a dual citizen, having been born in Iran and moved to Germany at seven years old. Her performance is uncanny, thanks to dialect coach work that allowed her to adopt an authentic mid-Atlantic accent.
The drama depicts the emotional struggle of Nazanin's family, particularly Richard Ratcliffe, who had to navigate his own despair as he watched the British government fail to act. The film also sheds light on the role of state hostage-taking and how innocent people can be caught up in geopolitics.
In Prisoner 951, Joseph Fiennes brings to life the real-life struggle of Richard Ratcliffe, a forensic accountant who was powerless against the forces of politics and bureaucracy. His performance highlights the human cost of government failure and the unbreakable bond between him and his wife Nazanin.
The drama also highlights the role of human love in survival - how Richard's love for his daughter, Nazanin's love for her own, and their joint love kept them going through a nightmare ordeal. The title "Love Story" may not be entirely accurate but captures the essence of how these families endured despite everything.
In reality, it was only after nearly six years in prison that Nazanin was finally released - thanks to an announcement by Liz Truss that the UK would repay nearly £400m to Iran on the same day. The real-life reason for her arrest had long been public knowledge: the British government's refusal to refund a partial payment made by the Shah of Iran for armoured vehicles in 1971.
In Prisoner 951, Joseph Fiennes notes how there may be others like Nazanin whose families are trapped behind bars and who lack the same visibility and confidence as she did. It is a sobering reminder that this struggle continues to affect many Iranian citizens around the world.
In 2016, Nazanin, a dual national, was arrested on spying charges while separated from her two-year-old daughter and accused of attempting to overthrow the Iranian regime. The case sounded "fanciful" to many, including those in the Iranian diaspora, who were aware that there was no truth to the made-up reasons for her arrest.
As the UK navigated Brexit and new leadership, Richard Ratcliffe held a press conference with 780,000 signatures on a petition for his wife's release. The Foreign Office was involved in "murky meetings" where civil servants suggested that Nazanin should lay low to avoid disrupting the safety of her family and the Iranian regime's interests.
However, it wasn't until former PM David Cameron received a letter urging his intervention that things began to move forward. Theresa May took over as prime minister soon after, while Boris Johnson became foreign secretary - an appointment marked by disastrous remarks about Nazanin's alleged role in teaching people journalism.
The BBC drama Prisoner 951 brings this story to life with Narges Rashidi playing the lead role of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. Rashidi drew heavily from her own experience as a dual citizen, having been born in Iran and moved to Germany at seven years old. Her performance is uncanny, thanks to dialect coach work that allowed her to adopt an authentic mid-Atlantic accent.
The drama depicts the emotional struggle of Nazanin's family, particularly Richard Ratcliffe, who had to navigate his own despair as he watched the British government fail to act. The film also sheds light on the role of state hostage-taking and how innocent people can be caught up in geopolitics.
In Prisoner 951, Joseph Fiennes brings to life the real-life struggle of Richard Ratcliffe, a forensic accountant who was powerless against the forces of politics and bureaucracy. His performance highlights the human cost of government failure and the unbreakable bond between him and his wife Nazanin.
The drama also highlights the role of human love in survival - how Richard's love for his daughter, Nazanin's love for her own, and their joint love kept them going through a nightmare ordeal. The title "Love Story" may not be entirely accurate but captures the essence of how these families endured despite everything.
In reality, it was only after nearly six years in prison that Nazanin was finally released - thanks to an announcement by Liz Truss that the UK would repay nearly £400m to Iran on the same day. The real-life reason for her arrest had long been public knowledge: the British government's refusal to refund a partial payment made by the Shah of Iran for armoured vehicles in 1971.
In Prisoner 951, Joseph Fiennes notes how there may be others like Nazanin whose families are trapped behind bars and who lack the same visibility and confidence as she did. It is a sobering reminder that this struggle continues to affect many Iranian citizens around the world.
Joseph Fiennes' performance as Richard Ratcliffe is SO emotional 
, it's like you're right there with him feeling his despair and frustration. And can we talk about Narges Rashidi's amazing accent? She totally nailed the mid-Atlantic vibe 
! The way the drama highlights the human cost of government failure is just heartbreaking 
. I'm so proud of Richard for being a rock for Nazanin and their daughter during that incredibly tough time 
. Let's keep raising awareness about state hostage-taking and innocent people caught up in geopolitics 
Nazanin's story is insane, but Richard's anxiety about her release is super relatable 
i mean, he went through all that drama with the petition and the gov't meetings, now his wife is finally out but still dealing with PTSD 
it's wild how some ppl can just manipulate someone's life like that. Narges Rashidi's acting skills tho? 
she really brought back the emotions in this story, gotta watch the drama! 
, especially with narges rashidi's accent being so spot on... but what I find really sad is how many ppl still dont know the real reason for nazanin's arrest 
. and yeh, its crazy how the gov didnt act till david cameron got involved 
... that petition with 780k signatures must've felt like a drop in the ocean 
. anyway, prisoner 951 might be a great dramatization of this story, but lets not forget the real-life ppl still sufferin 
It's heartbreaking, but what really gets me is how the UK government dragged its feet on getting her released. I mean, who needs a petition with 780k signatures to make a difference? 
The fact that it took former PM David Cameron's letter to get things moving just highlights the importance of having strong leaders in politics 
. We should all take a page out of their book and support families who are going through similar struggles 
my heart goes out to Richard Ratcliffe, I can imagine how petrified he must be, going through that with his own experience playing for his wife's release... it's like he was already living that nightmare 
. The way they treated Nazanin is just heartbreaking, I mean, six years in prison?! That's so unfair and uncalled for 
. I hope the drama helps raise awareness about this issue and brings attention to those still trapped behind bars 
its heartbreaking how some ppl can be caught up in geopolitics like thats not real life at all!! the drama is so good btw 
it's a powerful reminder that we all have a role to play in fighting for human rights and dignity 
. i can imagine how petrified richard must be thinking about his wife's experience, it's like being in his shoes for a second is terrifying . the british government's handling of this situation was pretty shady too, especially with the foreign office trying to keep her quiet 
. but at least there's been some justice finally served and nazanin can move on with her life 
just read about Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's ordeal in Iran - 6 yrs in prison, can u believe it? 
according to Amnesty International. The average length of imprisonment for these individuals is around 4 yrs 
her experience is just heartbreaking & it's insane how long it took for the british gov to take action 
. and can we talk about how ridiculous it is that david cameron had to get involved via a letter from someone else? 
what's next, gonna need a petition signed by a random celeb for them to take action? 
anyway, i'm so proud of the actress narges rashidi who played nazanin - she's like an inspiration to anyone who's ever felt marginalized or oppressed 
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. And you're right, love is a powerful thing – it can get us through even the darkest times 
. There are still plenty of Iranians out there who are going through similar struggles 
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. And don't even get me started on how oversimplified the whole thing is. It's like they're trying to say "oh, government failure is bad!" without actually exploring all the complexities 
Richard Ratcliffe must've been super stressed 
with all those meetings at the Foreign Office 
trying to get his wife out 
Now it's time for more action 
especially with that £400m repayment