NOT WITHOUT MY DAUGHTER
US, 1991, 114 minutes, Colour.
Sally Field, Alfred Molina.
Directed by Brian Gilbert.
Not Without My Daughter is based on the memoir of Betty Mahmoody, the campaigner for the rights of women, author of several books. In the 1980s, in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Shah of Iran, many who had fled the country and lived in the United States, went back to Iran and wanted to contribute to the building up of the country. Betty Mahmoody's Iranian doctor husband, feeling alienated in the United States, went back to Teheran and decided to stay, changing completely in his attitude towards his wife and daughter, identifying with the Islamic fundamentalism of the country. Betty Mahmoody wanted to go to Iran for two weeks to support her husband in seeing his family. She found herself trapped, forced into Iranian and Islamic styles and customs, treated brutally by her husband. She arranged an escape and went through the Iranian mountainous country into Turkey.
The film was criticised on its release as being too critical of Islam - however, it gives a picture of life in Iran during the '80s under the Ayatollah Khomeny.
The film was a star vehicle for Sally Field who produced the film. Alfred Molina (Prick Up Your Ears, Hancock, Letter to Brezhnev) a versatile British actor, is her husband.
1. The film based on a true story, the perspective of Betty Mahmoody, the American viewpoint, the attitude towards Islam - objective or biased? The effect on the audience?
2. The Michigan settings, the contrast with Iran and Teheran? The authentic atmosphere for Iran, its look, feel, customs? The homes, shops, the streets? The musical score?
3. The rise of Islam in the '80s and '90s? Fundamentalist Islam? Customs, religious beliefs? Fanaticism? The attitude of the United States, Iran-Iraq? war, the Iranian hostages?
4. The title, emotion? Betty's perspective?
5. The American opening, attractive American way of life, Betty and her daughter, the grandparents and their home? Betty and Moody? His work as a surgeon? His experience, prejudice at the hospital against Iranians? The phone call from his family? His being absent from the revolution and the men with a sense of guilt at not contributing?
6. The decision to go to Iran, Moody persuading Betty, the conditions he agreed to? The arrival, Betty's sense of alienation, his being welcomed home? Betty and her fear, the culture, the family and the greeting of Moody?
7. The portrait of the family, their lifestyle, language, customs, Islamic religion, prayer, the role of women, subjugation, dress? The meals, the talk? Betty and her growing anger? The daughter and her being absorbed by the family? Mother and daughter coping? The characters and the change of circumstances?
8. Betty and Moody, their relationship, his change, his lies, his intimidating Betty, the physical and emotional brutality? His demands for her to be like Iranian women, obedient, dress? Confined to the house, supervised, Betty and her attempts at phone calls? Audience reaction to this treatment of women?
9. The phone call to her parents, attempts to get the State Department to help, the visit to the Swedish embassy and the officer explaining the reality of the situation to her, Iranian citizenship, divorce and custody of children? Her being spied on in the house by the family, reported to Moody? His confronting her? Her visit to the shop, the sympathetic shopkeeper, allowing her to ring? The Koran classes, her being allowed out, meeting the other women? The point of her learning Iranian and Islamic culture in order to stay?
10. Her meeting the American woman, the bond between them, talking, the meal at the home, secrets, giving her the letter, the woman not posting it and giving it to her husband, the confrontation and the humiliation of Betty?
11. The daughter, loved by both parents, age, the birthday parties? Coping, with her mother, having to lie to her father about the plans for escape? His pressure on her?
12. The tension between husband and wife, Betty pretending to be compliant, the sexual relationship? Moody's dominance? His mood, not getting jobs, ashamed about not being part of the revolution and yet feeling alienated? The illness, her wanting to go to her father, Moody's conditions, taking her passport? The deadlines for leaving?
13. Betty and her contact, the possibility of his helping her escape, the plan to go to the Gulf? The changed deadline, the plan, the rush, taking her daughter, the taxis, changing them?
14. Into the mountains, the guides, the remote outposts, the men and the attempted rape, the danger for herself and her daughter, the climate and the hardships?
15. Arriving in Turkey, the sense of safety, freedom, walking around the streets, the exhilaration?
16. How successful was the film as a drama, as a portrait of a family, as a portrait of a woman taking a stand, portrait of Islamic society - Islam as a society, as religious?
