Rating: 
Summary: An engaging, forthright movie
Review: Strangely enough, this was one of those movies I thought was "ho-hum, boring, a chick-flick" at the time it was released back in 1990. Seeing it later made me change my mind. It is the engaging true story of a woman who suffers abuse at the hands of her husband, but who is ultimately a survivor and even a warrior. Man, do you end up cheering for her. The added dimension is that the abuse she suffers is condoned by the country and political-religious system in which she was living at the time - Shi'ite Iran.
I believe this is a very true depiction of life for a woman in fundamentalist Muslim cultures, especially a western woman who is not used to submitting to oppressive cultural and marital demands. Wearing a burqa was the least of Betty Mahmoody's troubles - her husband, who initially appeared tolerant and even westernized while he was living in America, changes into a control freak when he returns to Iran with his wife and young daughter. I felt some sympathy for the husband due to the fact he appears initially reluctant to dominate Betty in the way his family and culture expects, but he was either fooling us all along, or he was very weak-minded and completely unfaithful to his vows to love and honor his wife by treating Betty so viciously.
Betty is at first incredulous about her husband's expectations, but when he starts beating her she learns to be docile while planning an escape for her and her daughter. It was amazing to see in the family situations how Iranian women are so indoctrinated by their culture that they too become oppressors, of other women and anyone who is not being Islamic enough.
Fortunately there are other heroes in this story besides Betty - Iranian dissidents who help her plan and execute an escape, at great risk to their own lives.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent movie!
Review: I really enjoyed this movie. It's very disturbing for me to hear that things like this actually happen in this world, but deep down I know it does. Everywhere. I don't think in any way, does this movie or Betty Mahmoody try to make ALL iranians or muslims "look bad" I think that this is just a portrayal of what happened to a woman and her child by a man, who so obviously did everything he could to control her. It happens in ALL parts of the world and there are movies and books about those as well. I think it's unfair to say that Betty is crazy or that the producers and directors of the film are being biased. It's an actual account of an acctual womans story and what happened to her. At no point in the movie did they make the statement that ALL Iranians are crazy or that the muslim faith is stupid. I just think that Betty, happened to marry into the wrong family, things could and probably would have been very different with a different man of the same faith and ethnicity.
In one review I read where one was offended that Dr. Mahmoody makes the statement that Iranians only shower once per month. NOT TRUE!! He does NOT say that. He tells her that his family thinks they have sex all the time b/c they shower 2-3 times per day and in their culture after a husband and wife have been "together" they must wash before prayer b/c it's unclean.
Which very well could be true and even IF not in the muslim faith, it could very well have been a rule in HIS family.Overall, I think this was a very good movie and would definitely recommend it to any and everyone!
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites!
Review: Don't get me wrong, this is not a "feel-good" movie of any kind, as a matter of fact it is downright disturbing and horrific, especially taking into account that it is a true story, and that many other women and children are probably in the same condition right now. I have read several reviews and I'm a little disappointed by all of the "I want to hear Dr. M's side of the story" and "she must have made this up--it couldn't have really happened" and "this movie is anti-Islamic" sentiments. Whether you like it or not, whether you agree with it or not, this is one woman's true story of being held against her will by her outrageously domineering and abusive husband in a country she does not want to be in. It has little to do with Iran or Islam, except for the fact that fundamental Muslims believe in and savagely defend that a woman has no rights without her husband. I applaud Betty for doing what is right when she got back here to the US, which is speak out about her traumatic experience, and try to help those in similar situations. Otherwise, how would we even know that such horrors exist? I guarantee that with all of the post-9/11 Koran-kissing going on, a movie such as this would never be made today. I'm thankful that it was made at a time when people weren't afraid to hear the truth. For some reason this movie regularly comes to mind when I hear someone complaining about women's rights in this country...unfortunately sometimes we don't realize how good we have it. If you choose to read Betty's books, do so only after seeing this movie...then you won't be able to whine that "the movie isn't as good as the book"...
Rating:
Summary: TOP MARKS FOR SALLY FIELD
Review: A compelling true life story is bought to life by director Brian Gilbert and makes compulsive viewing. The story goes that Betty Mahmoody (Sally Field) goes to Iran with her doctor husband (Alfred Molina - husband of Jill gascoine, who is renowned for her roles in British crime series The Gentle Touch and it's sequel, C.A.T.S Eyes) only to find out that her husband has a dark, violent nature, making her life completley intolreable and feeling like a hostage. She then turns to an underground chain of helpers to escape. Due to Iranian laws it details how if Betty leaves her daughter behind then she would automatically be giving up her rights to the child. Very gripping, tense stuff with Sally Field in particular putting in a uniquely superb performance. The film manages to evoke a tense atmosphere throughout, building on suspense. The film has some surprise twist and turns along the way but thankfully the story has a happy ending. The harrowing incidents that takes place in this film is thought provoking, making you wander how many more poor Betty Mahmoods's there are in Iran suffering the same traumatising humiliation. A thoroughly excellent film that is complemented by it's splendid, top rate cast. Recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Neat movie but a letdown for fans of the book
Review: I originally saw the last three quarters or so of the movie on TV. I enjoyed it a lot and was more excited when I found out it was based on a true story and a book. I read the book and loved it. It is now one of my favorites. I then saw the movie again but in its entirety, on the DVD. It is a good movie overall. However, it falls short compared to the book in several areas:
The trailer-The trailer showed on the DVD is one of the most attention grabbing I have ever seen. If I had seen it in the theatre without knowing anything about the book, I would have been one of the first in line to go see it. However, trailers are made simply for publicity and I might be disappointed since I had already read the book when I saw it. The movie was less exciting than the trailer made it out to be. Length-This movie was way too short. I know the movie could not have included all the details of the book, but even an extra 50 minutes bring it in at two and a half hours could have filled in plenty of holes without making the plot drag. Details-Again, some stuff had to be truncated but I think they could have done a better job. For me to elaborate on every detail would take up too much space and would be of little interest to those who haven't read the book. The biggest hole was the evolution of Moody's character. In the book, Betty spends much time giving flashbacks on how they met and how such a loving husband and father could have turned into the man he did when they arrived in Iran. I found that in the movie, Moody seemed to evolve without any explanation. The book starts the flashbacks in 1974 whereas the movie starts immediately in 1984. There are aloso minor holes such as how Betty and Mahtob had passports when they escaped since Moody had taken them. In the book this makes perfect sense as the Swiss Embassy re-issued new passports to Betty and Mahtob unbeknownst to Moody. I know this may seem like a minor detail but I am sure it annoyed more than one movie buff and this was one oversight that could have easily been corrected. There are other things such as characters' roles and even names from the book being changed for the movie. Don't get me wrong. This was a good movie. But being a huge fan of such a rich and detailed book, I guess I feel that no movie version could have properly chosen exactly which details to include in the movie. If they had to make a film version of the book, it might have been a better idea to make a mini-series that could have elaborated more on plot details. But in any case, read the book!!! It may look long but you will get through it fast and not be able to put it down in the process. By the way, to respond to the criticisms of both the movie and the book being biased, she was held against her will in a foreign country for no justifiable reason. End of discussion.
Rating:
Summary: Superb movie, and completely TRUE!!
Review: This is one of my favorite movies. This fact based story is as close to the real thing as possible, I can personally vouch for that. I was in Iran for almost 2 years before the Shah was kicked out in 1979 and I can tell you that every aspect of Iranian life you see in the film is absolutely true. Anyone who thinks otherwise is really full of BS, and I got a few other words for you. This is a heart felt story of escaping evil for a mother's love of her daughter. There is nothing wrong with thie movie at all. I would recommend it to everyone, it's a real tearjerker. And the most telling part is that the whole thing actually happened.
Rating: 
Summary: racist attack on Iranians and Muslims generally
Review: This film is a real low. A complete racist attack on Iranian people and Muslims generally, and part of the propaganda that has been used to justify the West's new crusade and assault against the people of the Middle East. Sally Field should be ashamed to have been associated with this film. They might as well have commercials for the Pentagon and big oil companies throughout the movie. Full of stereotypes and total lies, it glorifies a woman who kidnaps her daughter and takes her out of Iran illegally, depriving her husband of custody unlawfully and unjustly. Unbelievable!
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites!
Review: Don't get me wrong, this is not a "feel-good" movie of any kind, as a matter of fact it is downright disturbing and horrific, especially taking into account that it is a true story, and that many other women and children are probably in the same condition right now. I have read several reviews and I'm a little disappointed by all of the "I want to hear Dr. M's side of the story" and "she must have made this up--it couldn't have really happened" and "this movie is anti-Islamic" sentiments. Whether you like it or not, whether you agree with it or not, this is one woman's true story of being held against her will by her outrageously domineering and abusive husband in a country she does not want to be in. It has little to do with Iran or Islam, except for the fact that fundamental Muslims believe in and savagely defend that a woman has no rights without her husband. I applaud Betty for doing what is right when she got back here to the US, which is speak out about her traumatic experience, and try to help those in similar situations. Otherwise, how would we even know that such horrors exist? I guarantee that with all of the post-9/11 Koran-kissing going on, a movie such as this would never be made today. I'm thankful that it was made at a time when people weren't afraid to hear the truth. For some reason this movie regularly comes to mind when I hear someone complaining about women's rights in this country...unfortunately sometimes we don't realize how good we have it. If you choose to read Betty's books, do so only after seeing this movie...then you won't be able to whine that "the movie isn't as good as the book"...
Rating:
Summary: The truth laid bare....
Review: You'll have to laugh at the fact that this movie is precisely the type of thing Hollywood wouldn't make now for any amount of money. It wouldn't be any less true, of course, but it wouldn't be 'tolerant' to report these abuses that any educated person already knew about anyway. Take a peek into a twisted culture that treats women little better than caged animals. Absolutely vile, inexcusable behavior no matter how hard some may try to spin it away. 'Tolerance' is not a burden on our part when human rights are being trampled on like this....the burden of tolerance is squarely on Middle Eastern culture and anyone who says otherwise is pushing an agenda that leads to accepting what this story shows. That this woman had to endure this and come back here and have some belittle this story as fabricated is indescribably cruel as well as knowingly false. A brave woman who, by her own innocence, walked into a nest of ignorance and callousness and came out the other end to warn you.
Rating:
Summary: Don't believe everything you read in a movie review....
Review: Well I thought I had heard it all from movie reviewers, but not until I read what "A Reviewer" wrote on July 12. To suggest that a Betty had in any way fabricated or exaggerated her ordeal is both ludicrous and demeaning - her means of escape doesn't suggest she fled from a loving husband does it? And Betty herself said in her book that we should never judge an entire race/faith as one, as she herself encountered many Iranians/Muslims who were willing to assist her escape the repressive regime of the ayatollah. Yes, the movie and book does intend to show women what can happen should they marry an Iranian, but given the fact that Betty has the opportunity to spread this warning, isn't it her duty? She herself has worked to bridge the gap between Christianity and Islam, so nobody can alledge any underlying hatred towards Muslims. She also states in her book that we all (Christians and Muslims) worship the one God. And to suggest that Betty's history was somehow the cause of her ordeal! The previous reviewer suggests that the movie embelishes facts stated in the book, and even that the book embelishes facts. You will notice that there are differences, as in any Hollywood adaptation of a book, none of which, however, are designed to "dramatize" the facts. Read the book for yourself, should you be interested, as it reveals more than the movie could ever hope to.
|
