Desert One (film)

Desert One is a 2019 American-British documentary film directed by Barbara Kopple. The film chronicles Operation Eagle Claw, the 1980 attempt to rescue American hostages held in Iran. It extensively utilizes archival footage, interviews with former hostages, Iranian personnel, U.S. military personnel involved in the operation, and then-President Jimmy Carter to reconstruct the events leading up to, during, and after the failed rescue mission. The film details the planning stages, the logistical challenges encountered, and the ultimate failure of the mission at Desert One, a staging area in the Iranian desert. It also examines the political and strategic implications of the operation’s failure on Carter's presidency and U.S.-Iran relations. The film received generally positive reviews for its comprehensive approach and insightful interviews.