Not Without My Daughter (1991)

It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

Best movie ever!

Absolutely Brilliant!

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

This is an 8+ star movie in my opinion. It doesn't take a lot of imagination to figure out why the movie's been shouted down to 6.2 on IMDb. All I can say is, if the embarrassing shoe fits your backward culture, wear it.OK, I'm supposed to fill up space, according to IMDb, so here goes.An Iranian-American physician, living in Michigan, decides to move himself, his wife, and his daughter back to Iran, without cluing his family in to his intentions. Once in Iran, the man can't find a job, becomes completely unhinged, and refuses to let his wife and daughter return to America.Some examples of familial warmth: the doctor doesn't allow his wife to use the telephone in her own house, enlists friends and family members to spy on her, and repeatedly beats her and threatens her with death if she tries to leave Iran with his daughter. It's like 'Father Knows Best', but with a lot more emphasis on paranoia and revenge.Throw in scenes of daily life in Iran, and you come away with the following lesson: People who want normal lives, particularly for their wives and daughters, shouldn't move to a Moslem country.I found 'Not Without My Daughter' compelling from start to finish. If you're used to thinking of Sally Field as Forrest Gump's Mom, this will definitely help you get over that. Sally's great.

I seen this movie and wounder how it can be wrong.Firstly it is not a story about an mother and daughter cause it portrayed all Iranian like cruel and bad people, and of course they behave to women like slaves.... ! Some points why we should not believe Betty Mahmoody;First, I admit bad people could be found all around the world, however, this is not just about a bad and cruel husband, she portrayed all Iranians like this. I suggest whoever believe this just google it and see read about Iran.Moreover, I am sure if you do a little bit of effort, you will finally find some Iranians or some who traveled to Iran. Just simply ask them if Iran and Iranians are like this....!!!Definitely, there are some limitations But not what portrayed.... Apart from religion and politics in Iran, women are part of our culture and with all limitation they have had applied their opinion. I admit not like men in recent decades but it is part of their culture from thousands years ago.....!This movie is totally political as governors comes and goes and the changes some laws but they cannot change culture easily. this happened in 1984 just 6 years after revolution and no one can change culture of people even in decades....Just do a little be research about Iran, CULTURE AND PEOPLE and you will see 100 percent lies and discrepancy.....!

This film has received a great deal of flak for its treatment of Dr. Mahamoody, of Iran and indeed, of Islam itself. Yet it must be acknowledged that this is the reality of life in Iran as well as other countries operating under strict Islamic law (c.f. Saudi Arabia): women cannot so much as board a plane or check into a hotel without their husbands' permission, children are in the custody of the father and the family will do as he says.The postmodernist is occasionally willing to admit this, but quick to point out all of the supposed past and present faults of Christian and Occidental civilisation. To this end, the filmmakers (I am not familiar with the book) have done an excellent job avoiding either explicit Christian traditionalism or liberal feminism in depicting Betty's struggle. It could well be read as Christianity versus Islam: notice the large crucifix conspicuously dangling from her neck, and the implication that Betty would never truly consider converting; it is also implied that Betty has raised her daughter a Christian and resists any notion of conversion. On the other hand, it could be read as modernism and feminism versus fundamentalist religion: Betty is shocked that she cannot simply come and go as she pleases, and with her child. (I lean toward the former interpretation, though my reasons for thinking so would take up too much space.)Further, the people who helped Betty escape Iran included Iranians. It is true that these Iranians were depicted as sincere Amerophiles, but let us ask, honestly: what other type of Iranian would help an American escape from her Iranian husband? Moreover, the movie depicts the local Iranian women as genuinely wishing to help Betty adjust: this could well be read as an acknowledgement that the mentality in Iran is quite different than Betty's or any Occidental's.True, the film is centered around Betty and any value judgments would tend to lean toward her side, but in my mind this is a film that cleverly avoids explicit value judgments and tends toward the problem of culture clash. Whatever one thinks about religion or cultural relativism, the fact is that people ARE different, however many similarities one may find, and this has practical consequences. Moreover, the depiction of Moody as swinging from moderate to radical is based on Betty's real memories and should not be discounted. This is one woman's story; the reader is invited to draw his own conclusion.

"Betty (Sally Field) has come to the Middle East (Iran) with her daughter and native-born husband (Alfred Molina) for a visit with his family. But soon the horrible truth about their 'vacation' surfaces. Betty's husband doesn't intend to bring his family back to America... ever. She may return, he says, but their daughter must stay. In a hostile, war-torn country, where even the slightest misstep can mean death, she makes a desperate bid to escape with her child," according to the DVD sleeve's synopsis.This Iranian husband, who reads newspapers at work printed in his own language, doesn't know how much his country has changed? What on EARTH did Ms. Field's character see in this psychopath? Did they cut the scene where someone deposits a giant pea-pod in his Iranian backyard? The relationship between the two principles is totally unbelievable, with Mr. Molina faring the worse. One wonders what "American" citizens thought of Iranian immigrants after watching this film in 1991. But, it plays (as a monster "moody").**** Not Without My Daughter (1/11/91) Brian Gilbert ~ Sally Field, Alfred Molina, Sheila Rosenthal