Not Without My Daughter Page #3

Synopsis: "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.
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Director(s): Brian Gilbert
Production: MGM Home Entertainment
  2 wins & 1 nomination.
 
IMDB:
6.3
Rotten Tomatoes:
47%
PG-13
Year:
1991
116 min
1,720 Views


- Besides, I'm a Muslim.

- This is where I should be.

- Don't do this.

I know it seems harsh,

but it's the best thing for all of us.

- Mahtob could learn real values here.

- No! I won't stay here. You can't...

You listen to me.

You're in my country now.

You're my wife. You do as I say.

You understand me?

We're staying here.

Mammal, would you translate for me?

Please excuse me if I don't get my words

straight. I'm a bit shaken up.

I wanted to talk to you to see

if you could understand my feelings.

Moody and I have been married

for seven years.

We have loved each other very much

and trusted each other.

Trust was always very important.

I didn't want to come here.

Moody knew that.

I made it very clear to him.

The only reason I came was to visit

with you so you could meet our daughter.

But I was frightened.

So Moody swore to me on the holy Koran

that nothing like this could happen.

He held the Koran and he swore to me.

Isn't that true, Moody?

I had to. You wouldn't

have come with me if I hadn't.

Baba Hajji, you're a religious man.

How can Moody swear on the Koran

and then do this to me?

Allah will forgive him.

No! No!

Ameh Bozorg, Ameh Bozorg,

please help me! Please!

No, you can't do this. Damn you!

Damn you! You can't keep me here!

You had this planned all along!

Damn you!

I'll be with you.

I'll help you.

You try to go to sleep.

Where are the cheque-books

and credit cards?

And I'll need the house keys

and the keys to the car.

They're in the small bag, I think.

Moody?

- Talk to me. Please!

- There's nothing more to say.

Oh, Moody, please. Please talk to me.

Mahmood...

I told you to stop calling here.

No, she's not available.

She's also my wife,

which means she wants to do what I want.

You're not helping him by doing this.

Yes, I know and I'm very sorry,

but this isn't gonna help his illness,

so please leave us alone.

No, I will not discuss...

I really don't care about that. The State

Department can do what the hell it likes!

Betty, you've got to eat.

You can't keep this up.

You're gonna make yourself sick.

If I thought you really wanted to stay here,

we could have such a great life.

You know... when I first heard

the Shah was leaving Iran...

it was just after Mahtob was born.

I couldn't believe it. It was just amazing.

They had everyone on the streets.

Millions of people.

I should have been here.

For the first time,

we could say to everyone,

"This is our faith. This is our way of life.

This is who we are. "

And nothing could stop us.

You can't imagine what that was like.

I know things have been hard for you,

but they'll get better.

I promise you.

- Dear Lord, hear our prayer.

- Dear Lord, hear our prayer.

Please help us leave Iran

and get back to America.

Please help us leave Iran

and get back to America.

Please let nothing separate us.

Please let nothing separate us.

And keep us always safe in your care.

And keep us always safe in your care.

- Amen.

- Amen.

- Hello.

- Hello, Betty.

- Mom? Oh, God!

- Don't talk. Just listen.

You are to go to the 'American Interests

section of the Swiss Embassy.

There is no US Embassy

in Tehran any more.

It's on Khiaban Fereshteh Street.

Their number is 625475.

- 625475...

- What are you doing?

It was ringing. I answered it.

Why do you wanna humiliate me?

You don't touch the phone

or leave the house.

- Do you understand?

- Yes!

Swiss Embassy.

American Interests section.

I can't hear. You'll have to talk louder.

- I can't talk louder.

- I can't hear you, caller.

'Are you there, caller?.

'Are you there, caller?.

Please help me. I'm being held hostage.

You'll have to talk louder.

You're very faint.

I'm being held hostage. Please help me.

I'm sorry. I can't hear you, caller.

Who were you talking to?

- When?

- On the phone.

- No one.

- Don't lie to me!

- Stop it, Daddy!

- It's OK. It's between Mommy and me.

It was nothing. I tried to call Nasserine.

I got the wrong number.

What do you think?

You think you can lie to me?

You think you can do anything

without me knowing about it?

My family tell me everything.

They're watching you all the time,

so don't be stupid.

Mommy isn't stupid.

She's gonna have to start school soon.

We'll have to get her the right clothes.

- I don't wanna go to school.

- What school? When?

American Interests... The Swiss Embassy.

Khiaban Fereshteh is the name

of the street. Khiaban Fereshteh.

Swiss Embassy.

My name is Betty Mahmoody.

I'm an American citizen.

Show your passport inside.

- Thank you.

- Passport.

We don't have our passports. My husband

has them. We're American citizens.

- You can go.

- Mommy, we can go home!

My name is Nicole Adjanian.

Betty Mahmoody.

This is my daughter, Mahtob.

- Please sit.

- Thank you.

We're so glad to see you.

I spoke with my mother

in the United States.

I know the State Department is into this.

We're just very happy to be here.

We'll sleep anywhere.

For as long as it takes,

until you can get us out.

What are you talking about?

You cannot stay here.

I can't go back to my husband.

I wanna go home to the United States.

That may be, but you are in Iran.

- You are married to an Iranian?

- Yes.

- Then you are an Iranian citizen.

- No.

I'm not. I'm an American citizen

and my daughter's an American citizen.

We were born in the United States.

We have American passports.

I mean, we don't have them with us.

My husband has them.

We've never changed our citizenship.

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 have to go back to your husband.

But we'll never get out of Iran.

We're being held hostage.

It was almost impossible to come here.

Mrs Mahmoody, there are many American

women here in similar circumstances.

May I ask you why you came to Iran?

I don't know.

I don't know.

I was afraid to come.

I wanted to please him.

I trusted him.

I was frightened

but I never thought this would happen.

I thought of him as an American.

He's changed. Oh, God, he's changed.

Look, Mrs Mahmoody...

Many came back after the Revolution

feeling guilty about being away,

about turning their backs

on Iran and on Islam.

Now Iran is an Islamic state and that's

a wonderful thing for many Iranians.

Well, if there is anything I can do...

Maybe if you need to organise

telephone calls to the US

or if you want to write letters home,

let me know.

So if Daddy asks,

we went for a walk and got lost.

Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!

- Where were you?

- I went for a walk!

- Huh? Where were you?

- We went for a walk!

Shut up!

You try anything like this again,

I'll kill you.

Oh, my God.

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday, dear Mahtob

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you

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David W. Rintels

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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