Not Without My Daughter (1991)

An American woman, trapped in Islamic Iran by her brutish husband, must find a way to escape with her daughter as well.

Director:

Brian Gilbert

Writers:

Betty Mahmoody (book), William Hoffer (book)

Stars:

Sally Field, Alfred Molina, Sheila Rosenthal

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sally Field	...	Betty Mahmoody
Alfred Molina	...	Moody
Sheila Rosenthal	...	Mahtob
Roshan Seth	...	Houssein
Sarah Badel	...	Nicole
Mony Rey	...	Ameh Bozorg
Georges Corraface	...	Mohsen
Mary Nell Santacroce	...	Grandma
Ed Grady	...	Grandpa
Marc Gowan	...	Doctor
Bruce Evers	...	Doctor
Jonathan Cherchi	...	Mammal
Soudabeh Farrokhnia	...	Nasserine
Michael Morim	...	Zia
Gili Ben-Ozilio	...	Fereshte

Storyline

"Moody" is an Iranian doctor living in America with his American wife Betty and their child Mahtob. Wanting to see his homeland again, he convinces his wife to take a short holiday there with him and Mahtob. Betty is reluctant, as Iran is not a pleasant place, especially if you are American and female. Upon arrival in Iran, it appears that her worst fears are realized: Moody declares that they will be living there from now on. Betty is determined to escape from Iran, but taking her daughter with her presents a larger problem.

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Plot Keywords:

binational couple | iran | escape | woman | doctor | 

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Taglines:

In 1984, Betty Mahmoody's husband took his wife and daughter to meet his family in Iran. He swore they would be safe. They would be happy. They would be free to leave. He lied.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Persian Assyrian Neo-Aramaic

Release Date:

11 January 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jamais sans ma fille

Filming Locations:

Ankara, Turkey

Box Office

Gross USA:

$14,789,113

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pathé Entertainment, Ufland

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Mahtob" in Persian means "moonlight".

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Goofs

The way which Muslims pray in all of the praying scenes are wrong, and the opposite of Islamic rules.

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Quotes

Moody: I don't know how to say this to you. We're not going back. We're staying here.
Betty Mahmoody: [pauses] What do you mean? How long?
Moody: I want to get a job here in a hospital.
Betty Mahmoody: What?
Moody: I want us... to live in Iran.
Betty Mahmoody: [softly] No... No...
Moody: There's nothing for me in America.
Betty Mahmoody: No... What? Are you crazy? We're Americans. Your daughter's an American! Moody, honey, you're upset about your job. I understand that. We're going to go back today and we're going to fix it.
Moody: I want Mahtob to grow up here.
Betty Mahmoody: [increasingly angry] No!
[...]

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Connections

Followed by Anthahpuram (1998)

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Soundtracks

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
Written by Mildred J. Hill & Patty S. Hill
Published by Warner/Chappell Music

User Reviews

What's all the fuss about!!!!!

I saw this movie quite some time ago and enjoyed it. It did not leave me with a negative image of Iranians, Islam or Persia at all. I saw it as a simple story of mother trying to do what was best for her daughter. Not wanting ones daughter to be a second class citizen in my own opinion does not warrant the hostility I have seen portrayed in the previous comments. Sally Fields performance was certainly good. The movie told the story from the wifes/mothers point of view. I found that the movie showed just cause why the husband would become disenchanted with the USA. I can completely understand why he would like to return to his home. After all there is no place like home. My sympathy however with the husband left me when I saw the deception he displayed keeping his American family in Iran. This movie, though flawed was well worth viewing.