Not Without My Daughter (1991)

Actors: Jonathan Cherchi (actor), Georges Corraface (actor), Bruce Evers (actor), Sasson Gabai (actor), Marc Gowan (actor), Ed Grady (actor), Shaul Mizrahi (actor), Alfred Molina (actor), Michael Morim (actor), Avraham Morr (actor), Mony Rey (actor), Roshan Seth (actor), Joseph Shiloach (actor), Amir Shmuel (actor), Ya'ackov Banai (actor),

Plot: "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.

Keywords: based-on-book, based-on-true-story, doctor, domestic-violence, dowry, escape, family-relationships, female-protagonist, first-person-title, happy-birthday-to-you
Genres: Drama, Thriller,
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.

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!::Moody: I think she should become a Muslim!::Betty Mahmoody: [screams] No! No! [pauses] You lied to me. You lied to me! You held the Koran and you swore to me that nothing was going happen. You were planning this all the time. You lied to me!

Betty Mahmoody: Baba Hajji, you're a religious man. How can Moody swear on the Koran and do this to me?::[Mammal translates, Babba Hajji gives an assertive answer and the entire family starts yelling at Betty in Farsi]::Mammal: Allah will forgive him!::[yelling continues, Betty starts crying]::Betty Mahmoody: No, no! Ameh Bozorg! Ameh Bozorg, please help me, please!::[Ameh Bozorg yells at Betty]::Betty Mahmoody: No, you can't do this! God damn you! God damn you! You can't keep me here! You had this planned all along! Damn you!

Betty Mahmoody: [Betty escapes from Moody into town after a violent outburst] Nicole, he's going to kill me!

Houssein: [to Betty] Gardens have always had a special place in Persia throughout our history. In fact, the word "paradise" is a Persian word. It's hard to believe, isn't it, that the idea of paradise will always be intimately connected with Iran. Whenever I think of what's happening to my country, I try to remember its gardens.

[referring to Ellen's husband]::Betty Mahmoody: Was he violent?::Ellen: No, not in the States, never. They're not supposed to, you know. It's not Islamic.

Betty Mahmoody: Have you become Muslim?::Ellen: Mm-hmm.::Betty Mahmoody: Did you convert?::Ellen: Well, I wanted to, I guess. My husband was happy I did. It made things a lot better.::[Ellen sees her husband waiting for her]::Ellen: Uh, I... I got to go.::Betty Mahmoody: Ellen, it's been so...::Ellen: No, really.::[Ellen runs to her husband]

Nicole: If you marry an Iranian man, you automatically become an Iranian citizen. The laws regarding women are very strict. You cannot travel anywhere without written permission. You have no rights to the children. They go to the man in a divorce. I'm sorry, but you *will* have to go back to your husband.::Betty Mahmoody: But we'll never get out of Iran. We're being held hostage! It was almost impossible to come here!::Nicole: Mrs. Mahmoody, there are many American women here in similar circumstances. [pauses] May I ask you why you came to Iran?::Betty Mahmoody: [pauses] I don't know. I don't know.

[Moody laughs unexpectedly]::Betty Mahmoody: What's so funny?::Moody: You know, they think we make love all the time.::Betty Mahmoody: Who?::Moody: The family.::Betty Mahmoody: Why?::Moody: Well... because here, you know, after they make love, they have to take a shower because, you know, they can't pray unless they do, you know. It's considered unclean. And we're taking two, three showers a day!::[Moody continues laughing]::Betty Mahmoody: Oh God! What do they think? We're two rabbits or something!::[Betty is now laughing]::Betty Mahmoody: I'm not taking another shower the whole time I'm here. You *knew* that the whole time!::Moody: They didn't know you were such a swinger!::Betty Mahmoody: You knew that all the long! They were all giggling every time we took a shower.

Betty Mahmoody: My father's ill. He could be dying. I have to go and see him.::Houssein: I don't think your father would have wanted you to go back if it meant losing your daughter.::Betty Mahmoody: Why can't I go and see him, come back, and leave later with Mahtob?::Houssein: You can't leave Mahtob here, not with Moody's family. They're from the provinces, and this regime only encourages them. There are some people who consider a girl ready for marriage at nine years of age. Child brides are not unknown.

Mahtob: Mahtob: I'll be with you... I'll help you