Teheran '43 (1981)
A sweeping Soviet-French spy thriller that pits a determined intelligence agent against a deadly Nazi assassination plot targeting the Allied leaders in wartime Tehran.
Teheran '43 - Movie Information
- Original Title: Тегеран-43
- Release Year: 1981
- Directed by: Aleksandr Alov, Vladimir Naumov
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Action, Drama, Thriller
- Runtime: 3h 12m
- Original Language: Russian
- Spoken Languages: Russian, French, Persian
- Release Date (Theatrical): July 8, 1981 (France)
- Alternative Titles: Assassination Attempt (US), Teheran 43 - Killer sind immer unterwegs (DE), Teheran 43 (ES), 테헤란 43 (KR)
- Production Companies: Méditerranée Cinéma, Mosfilm
- Production Countries: France, Soviet Union, Spain, Switzerland
Teheran '43 - Plot
This story starts in 1980 in Paris as the memories of Andrei Borodin, a Soviet agent, take the action back to 1943 during the Teheran meetings of Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill. A high-ranking Nazi officer developed a plan to assassinate the three world leaders in order to undermine the Allied forces. He commissioned the German agent Max Richard to carry out his plan, but it failed miserably due to the quick action and thinking of Andrei. While in Teheran, Andrei met a French woman, Marie Louni, living in the city and they had a brief but intense affair. Nearly four decades later, the Nazi officer has been captured - but not for long. Freed by terrorists, the officer is hunting down the German agent who failed to carry out the planned assassinations. Max lives at Françoise, a young French woman, who hides him.
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Teheran '43 - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Aleksandr Alov
- Vladimir Naumov
Main Cast
- Igor Kostolevskiy
- Natalya Belokhvostikova
- Alain Delon
- Curd Jürgens
- Armen Dzhigarkhanyan
- Albert Filozov
- Mykola Hrynko
- Georges Géret
- Claude Jade
- Gleb Strizhenov
Writers
- Aleksandr Alov
- Vladimir Naumov
- Mikhail Shatrov
Producers
- Georges Cheyko
- Jean-Philippe Mérand
- Alois Schwendimann
Teheran '43 - FAQs
Is Teheran '43 based on a true story?
Teheran '43 is inspired by real historical events. The 1943 Tehran Conference — where Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill met — did face a genuine Nazi assassination threat known as Operation Long Jump. The film dramatizes this episode with fictional characters woven around the documented historical backdrop.
Who are the main actors in Teheran '43?
The film features Igor Kostolevskiy as Soviet agent Andrei Borodin, Natalya Belokhvostikova as his love interest Marie Louni, and French star Alain Delon as police inspector Georges Foch. Curd Jürgens and Armen Dzhigarkhanyan round out the international cast in key roles.
What is the real Nazi plot depicted in Teheran '43?
The film dramatizes Operation Long Jump, a reported Nazi scheme to assassinate the Allied leaders during the Tehran Conference. Soviet intelligence allegedly uncovered the plot before it could be executed. Historians still debate the full extent of the conspiracy, making it one of WWII's most intriguing unsolved mysteries.
Why does Teheran '43 jump between 1943 and 1980?
The film uses a dual-timeline structure: the present-day 1980 Paris storyline follows the aging Soviet agent Andrei Borodin as he confronts the resurfaced Nazi threat, while flashbacks reconstruct the original 1943 Tehran mission. This device creates suspense by connecting wartime espionage to contemporary terrorism.
What genre is Teheran '43?
Teheran '43 blends Action, Drama, and Thriller into a sweeping spy epic. It combines wartime espionage with Cold War-era intrigue, romantic drama, and political tension — making it a distinctive example of Soviet-French co-production cinema from the early 1980s.
Who directed Teheran '43?
Teheran '43 was co-directed by Aleksandr Alov and Vladimir Naumov, a celebrated Soviet filmmaking duo known for their ambitious, politically charged productions. The pair also co-wrote the screenplay alongside playwright Mikhail Shatrov, giving the film both cinematic scope and dramatic depth.
How long is Teheran '43?
Teheran '43 runs for 192 minutes — just over three hours. Its extended runtime allows the film to develop its dual-timeline narrative fully, giving space to both the wartime thriller at its core and the romantic and political subplots that unfold across Paris and Tehran.
What are similar movies to Teheran '43?
If you enjoy Teheran '43, you might like Fellowship of the Frog (1959) and Two-Minute Warning (1976) for their thriller tension, or Assassin Club (2023) and Weekend in Taipei (2024) for contemporary spy action. National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007) also shares the historical conspiracy angle.
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