An American woman trapped in Islamic Iran by her brutal husband must find a way for her and her daughter to escape.An American woman trapped in Islamic Iran by her brutal husband must find a way for her and her daughter to escape.An American woman trapped in Islamic Iran by her brutal husband must find a way for her and her daughter to escape.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 1 nomination
- Nasserine
- (as Soudabeh Farrokhnia)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe real Mahtob appeared as an extra in a school scene.
- GoofsSeveral of the Iranian characters in the film are shown wearing neckties, which have been effectively banned in Iran since the 1979 Revolution. Both neckties and bow ties are viewed by Iranian authorities as "un-Islamic" and a symbol of Western culture.
- 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]
Betty Mahmoody: 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!
And boy, was I surprised.
First, I'll start with the plot. Betty, an American, and her husband Moody, an Iranian, live with their daughter Mahtob in America. One day, Moody overhears two fellow doctors at the hospital he works out making racial comments about him. He quits, and proposes to Betty that they take Mahtob and go to Iran for a two-week vacation. Hesitant and scared, Betty agrees.
And that's only the beginning. The life in Iran is harsh and Betty is constantly forced to be wary of her surroundings. But the real nightmare begins when she realizes that Moody doesn't want to go back to America, and she herself is trapped in Iran, and has to save herself and her daughter.
This movie is enthralling. Sally Field plays the role perfectly, and her character is someone you can't help but identify with. The helplessness of her situation is overwhelming, but to watch her struggle for an escape from her abusive husband (abusive in anger because she is trying to leave) and the rough conditions of a foreign country is even more overwhelming. Some of the scenes are amazing. When Betty's nightmare first begins, and she's begging for help from Moody's family, and they're all yelling at her in Iranian as she screams, "God Damn you all!" to them is one of the most intense of the whole film. And the ending is great. Not what you would expect. Well, it's not like something shocking, it's just subtle. But it will definitely give you so much pride to be an American, and you'll feel some comfort in being in this free country. All in all, I definitely recommend this movie. For anyone. You will be amazed. I was.
- WritnGuy-2
- Jan 27, 2000
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $14,789,113
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $3,804,055
- Jan 13, 1991
- Gross worldwide
- $14,789,113
- Runtime1 hour 56 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1