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 | tyrant husband | female protagonist | domestic violence | mother daughter relationship | 

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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

Alfred Molins hated the fact that he had to hit Sally Field

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Goofs

Betty tells the woman at the Swiss Embassy she doesn't know why she came to Iran. Betty knew full well why she came. She had said she was afraid if she didn't go Moody would kidnap Mahtob and take her with him.

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Quotes

Mahtob: [watches as her father attacks her mother] Mummy!

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Connections

Referenced in The Nanny: Not Without My Nanny (1998)

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Soundtracks

Tavalodet Mobarak
(uncredited)
Written by Nozar Parang
Performed by The Moody Family

User Reviews

Powerful And Disturbing

The story of Betty Mahmoody is a truly frightening one. The book she wrote and this movie based on it are controversial (many see it as little more than a racist slam against Iranian culture) but to me this movie came across as both believable and balanced. There's no doubt that life in Iran isn't presented as paradise, but the story really isn't about life in Iran; it's about one woman's experience of being forced to remain in Iran against her will after she and her daughter accompany her Iranian born doctor husband back to his homeland to visit his family, and about her subsequent efforts to escape Iran with her daughter. It also does a great job of depicting the almost complete lack of rights and freedoms women possess in Iran - having a status as little more than property to their husbands, and subject to their complete control.

Sally Field was excellent in the role of Betty and Alfred Molina was also disturbingly believable as "Moody" - her husband. As the story opens, the family are living a comfortable life in Michigan and Moody is a completely Americanized doctor working in a local hospital - a loving husband and father. Against her better judgement, Betty agrees to visit his family in Iran - a family more radically Islamic than Moody who from the moment they arrive begin to pressure him to stay and adopt their ways. Molina did a good job of showing the gradual changes in Moody's character and as he becomes more and more abusive and controlling toward Betty. Field superbly portrays Betty's growing desperation and her feelings of helplessness (and hopelessness) as every opportunity for her to escape with her daughter seems to close. Finally, with the help of some sympathetic Iranians, Betty and daughter Mahtoub make a mad escape attempt toward Turkey.

Whether all aspects of Iranian life and culture are accurately portrayed here seems somewhat beside the point to me. This isn't, after all, a documentary about life in Iran. This is Betty's own story as she experienced it and remembered it - and it's a story that makes the viewer ache for her as she tries to figure out a way to escape this nightmare she's caught up in. I found her story completely believable and brilliantly portrayed.