Rating: 
Summary: The heart wrenching story of a mother's plight
Review: "Not Without My Daughter" is the true-life story of American Betty Mahmoody (Sally Field) who married an Iranian man who had moved the US. Together they had a daughter, Mahtob. The three pay a visit to the husband's native Iran, only to learn that it is not in fact a visit but that they are there to stay, and under Iranian law Betty automatically became an Iranian citizen once she married an Iranian man, and as a woman she does not have many of the rights she is accustomed to in the USA. Betty is trapped in a world she does not understand, and she wants to return to her home. She is told that she may return to the US, but must leave the daughter in Iran. She resolves that she will return but ... not without her daughter. I found "Not Without My Daughter" to be a gripping story because I could relate to what it is like to be in foreign lands and feel at the mercy of those around you, to be in a situation where not only do you not speak the language but the culture itself is alien. One realizes that "reality" is highly subjective. Also, a friend of mine lived through a very similar incident, albeit in the same country (luckily, my friend's father returned her to her mother in the USA). So, I myself cannot accuse this movie of being unrealistic or biased when I know that such incidents do occur. And I must add that "Not Without My Daughter" makes no secret of the fact that while it was Iranians who tried to prevent Betty Mahmoody from leaving Iran with her daughter, the people who aided Betty in doing so were also Iranian - and they are depicted as doing so at great personal risk and with no certainty of payment or personal benefit whatsoever. In fact, I found this to be the most moving aspect of the movie. Andrew Parodi
Rating:
Summary: Top drama, not politics
Review: Faithful to the book, this movie tells some truths that many people will not like because these facts violate their political prejudices. But like it or not, this is a true story and Betty is not the only woman trapped behind this particular iron curtain. As drama, it is tight, beautifully acted by all, including the little girl, and builds to a triumphant conclusion. Set your politics aside and enjoy this excellent movie.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful true tale of a mother's courage and love
Review: Don't listen to the reviews that say this is not a great film because it is too one-sided. It is her story, from her point of view, so natuarally is seems one-sided. In her book by the same title she pays very careful respect to Muslim culture. The film is gripping and Sally Field is excellent. See it!
Rating: 
Summary: educational movie, but IS somewhat biased
Review: I thought this movie was full of action, thrills, and suspense. It was also to an extent educational, since it does deal with a time when a revolution was taking place in iran, and gives us insight into the changes happening at that time. It also gives more insight into the lives of the culture of the people of the middle east. It's a good movie to pass the time.
However, before anyone thinks I'm overdefending the woman who, without thinking seriously, went to a country when there was a dangerous war going on, or risked her life and her child's just to leave, or that I'm gonna take in all the general stereotypes about the middle east, like their "Backwardness," or their "submissive women with little or no rights," let me make clear that I still feel that this movie IS a one-sided story that tries to exploit the average western viewer's knowledge of the middle east, and I think that this movie is also a bit propagandistic, trying to sell out to people the idea that iranians are to an extent "uncivilized uneducated savages," which is what this movie tries to paint the picture throughout. Even though a few good people who helped Betty escape are mentioned here, their views weren't very much concentrated on, and furthermore, the whole idea of the movie was to show what could happen to a woman who marries a middle eastern muslim, and, for the most part, as this movie clearly demonstrates through the plot, that negative things-more than positive-can happen. While it IS TRUE to somewhat that the US has more freedom for women,and many middle east cultures DO subjugate their women, the movie IS greatly dramatized, like all Hollywood productions, to give audience appeal, and a lot of the stuff in here can be gimmicks just to keep the viewer's attention . Unfortunately, we in the US also don't know too much about iran,or, as a matter of fact, about many other cultures beyond our borders, so this movie only adds to the many bad misconceptions about a country with a thousand years of knowledge, culture, and hospitality.
It's true that someone can have a bad experience, but if you read the book, you'll see a lot of the stuff is embellished, and though not said in the movie, it's made up, because I've had many Iranian friends, and have studied their culture, and it's not like in the movie, even for that time. For example, to say in a book that most of the people in the nation don't bathe for two whole months, is totally ludicruous, and designed to only further exploit someone's ignorance of 3rd world nation lifestyles. Also, since I myself am an American with a foreign background, I can relate to how tough revolutions and changes taking place can affect others, and feel we shouldn't tolerate many stereotypes of people when we haven't seen the other side of the coin, and how tough life can be.
Remember, there are many countries besides muslim or middle eastern countries, which aren't as civilized or forward as the US, and that their ways are not our ways, and we shouldn't degrade them because of our ignorance and lack of understanding.
I'm not saying that those countries are right, but we shouldn't play into the negative misconceptions about them through the media.
Lastly, the father in this story has HIS side to tell as well, and if we can just go and believe this woman's story, which can be dishonest, since I seriously felt she'd intense xenophobia in her book, (though not mentioned in the movie),and he hasn't been heard at all in the US, shouldn't he be heard as well?. Why not? Doesn't HE have a right to be listened to? Also, this woman was also married and divorced previously, and yet, not a bit of that was touched upon in this movie. I feel that this should have a pretty heavy bearing on the story, would you not agree? Can't the previous failure of a past marriage have a great impact on the outcome of the next one, based on the problems that were dealt with? Also, this woman was her husband's mental patient at one time,(also was not mentioned in the movie), and would that not also have a bearing upon the relationship between her husband and her own attitudes towards his culture? I'm not saying that what her husband did was right, but some of these things that were in the book were neglected in the movie, and had they been mentioned here, along with her husband's own views in the documentary HE made in Iran, I think we'd all have a better, balanced picture of the situation.
In all,it's a good movie, and IS insightful, and makes you feel proud to be American, but it IS BIASED , and we shouldn't use this movie as a reference for the status of women in iran, or movies like this one to judge the lives of people of 3rd world nations. If you want to know about exotic cultures, and their way of life, I suggest you do REAL research through primary resources, encyclopedias, and talk to people from those countries to find out for yourself the truth of the matter. Don't listen to propaganda. Be open-minded.
Rating: 
Summary: other side of the story
Review: I wish I had a chance to read the other side of the story from Dr. Mahmoody (Betty's hausband). From what I heard, I can imagine that it's much different.
I cannot judge Dr. Mahmoody neither I can believe this movie, unless I read his story as well.
Rating:
Summary: ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE!
Review: This film displays the 'true' story of a woman and her daughter striving for freedom. The film begins with a happy depiction of an average American couple and their daughter. The father is from Islamic decent and wishes to take his wife and only daughter to Iran to mmet his family. His wife reluctantly agrees to the trip, only to discover a new side to her husband once she gets there! She is pushed into imprisonment in a foreign country with foreign values for women. The film then monitors her struggle for freedom, with only one selfless thought, 'not without my daughter'. The film explores many themes and issues. Feminist issues, religion, love/hate, relationship between opposing cultures etc. This is a remarkable piece of film, with Sally Field's remarkable Oscar worthy portrayal of desperation and determination driving the action. One of the best films i've ever seen. I would put it up there with greats like, 'The Color Purple' and 'The Green Mile'. An absolute must see film!
Rating:
Summary: Welcome to Iran!!!
Review: This is a chilling depiction of life under the Ayatollah Khomeni, during the l980's, and it highlights the plight of an American women (Sally Field) who is married to an Iranian businessman, who is called back to his homeland during the Islamic Revolution. As you may remember, this was the same Revolution which led to the demise of the Carter Administration, and which catapulted Ronald Reagan into international stature, because he was not going to be bullied by an Islamic terrorist cleric. The movie depicts scenes which were reminiscent of the newspapers during those times, especially as it was covered when the hostages were held captive, and Sally Field's character is taken to Iran with her daughter, and we see what life might be like from her perspective in that formerly "closed society." What makes this such an interesting film is that there are nations which still treat its women this way (e.g., Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and other Islamic nations). This is not the book, and you may want to read the book before seeing the movie, but to see how this woman escapes with her daughter from Islamic regime, and to see how her once docile husband is transformed into a tyrant is incredible, but also very understanding, living together with his family as he does. Although you may not agree with its every premise, it is instructive. It is not anti-Islamic, however, but it is a wake-up call to us, and our future as nation could be transformed by this kind of extremism, as the Islamics would love to impose their Sharia law on our country, as they have in every country which they have dominated and controlled. Highly recommended, but indeed disturbing!
Rating: 
Summary: Dr Mahmoodys book
Review: HT from Arlington, VA United States says that the Dr Mahmoody has written an account of this story as well as Betty - soes anyone know what this book is called or where i can find it?
Rating:
Summary: one womans' nightmare
Review: This harrowing story is the story of one womans nightmare at being held captive in Iran. It does not exploit stereotypical views of Iran and its people because it is a true story, and not as some previous reviewers seem to think, a work of fiction. It in no way suggests that all Iranians act in the manner that Moody does. It simply sets out to tell the story of an American woman and her child and show the world through her eyes at that time of her life. What an incredible story of bravery and selflessness it is.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining
Review: I thought this was an intersting account of one woman's story. Nothing more, nothing less. Sally Field turned in a good performence as usual. Do women have diminished roles in the middle east when compared to western culture?-Of course-but that dosn't mean I think that this kind of situation is the norm. ...
|
