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The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

In that scary black-clad Iranian crowd covered by gigantic Khomeyni portraits (I've seen jollier pictures), a redeemable Muslim person is actually more difficult to spot than Waldo. Indeed, there have been movies where a whole town or a group of people have played the bad-guy role, but for the sake of fair play and objectivity, they were always given a chance to raise their voices and give their side of the story. But "Not Without My Daughter" gives the mother's side, and only the mother's side. Her name is Betty Mahmoodi and she's played by Sally Field.Surely a woman of such intelligence could go beyond the trauma of her experience and expect that such a story wouldn't improve the general opinion about Islam. But what one can say about the cry of a mother who, apparently, didn't find any ally among the people who surrounded her during two nightmarish years… apart from those who helped her to leave the country? And even then, you have a primitive guy trying to abuse her in her sleep. It's very revealing when there's no attempt whatsoever to shine not one single positive light on a Muslim, except if he explicitly speaks against Islam. No one would ever believe after watching the film, that what happened in Iran was perceived as a regression, even from a Muslim standpoint, even for Iranians.Look at today's Iran, look at the Iran of "A Separation", look at any documentary and you'll see women wearing make-up and showing hair, you'll and see how far it is from the one-dimensional depiction in "Not Without My Daughter", where even women seem to approve the aggressive behavior of Betty's husband. I don't think it is possible to accept that a human group can be that brainwashed, so lacking in empathy everybody would act with the same level of blind hatred. The film is efficient on that level, because we see the family from Betty's eyes and we all despise them, and as soon as Betty sets foot in Iran, we just want her (and her daughter) to get the hell out of it. And this is the most infuriating and frustrating aspect of the film, because our persuasion can only lead to contempt. And if the drama involving Betty's separation from her country and the risk of losing her daughter Mathob, the interaction of Sally Field and her daughter, are efficient, I wish the screenplay wasn't so abrupt in the husband's reversal.Alfred Molina is a great actor, and when the film begins, you can feel the love and tenderness he has for Betty and Mathob, we feel his pain when he's teased by his colleagues, mocking Iran's ignorance and primitiveness, and we love the genuine interactions with Mathob when he tells her that Iran used to be Persia, a rich and civilized country. But when he goes to Iran, he becomes a caricature, illustrating the very negative archetypes he was fighting against. A flawed and tormented character suddenly turns into a one-dimensional villain à la "Mommie Dearest". Yes, he lied to his wife and she had the right to be angry at him, but one should go beyond emotions. It wouldn't have hurt the film to have a few words about the Iran-Iraq war, to highlight the way it affected the husband, even more because USA was indeed giving weapons to Iraq at that time. But no, Moodi had to be a 'regular' wife-beater.And "Not Without My Daughter" exploits a terrifying experience (if only because Betty's goes from a steady idyllic setting to a country in War) to display every possible archetype against Islam. She's welcomed by the sight of a bleeding sheep, men react like hysterical hyenas when she lets her hair loose, there are mentions of girls being married at nine, or women being considered as totally disposable and so forth. The film was directed in 1991, 2 years after the Cold War ended, and in the midst of a war against Iraq, the Green scare had efficiently replaced the Red ones and movies didn't have to wait too long Ironically, when "Not Without My Daughter" was released, Iraq became the enemy, so in the eyes of people, whatever was Muslim or Arabic, belonged to the darkest side of humanity. And the fatwa against Salman Rushdie didn't improve the publicity.Sometimes, I remember what I said about "Midnight Express", one of my favorite movies, and I said that the film wasn't a cry against Turkey but a hymn for hope and perseverance against adversity. One can say the same about "Not Without My Daughter", except that the bars that make the prison are cultural barriers that reassemble all the negative imagery one has about Islam. And while I love to see the ending as the triumph of a mother who saved her daughter, I bet many viewers would look at it as the triumph of civilization over primitive. Now people not only fear Islam, but they think they have good reasons to do so. I was just watching a "South Park" episode recently (and I love "South Park") and an Iraqi guy shot Santa Claus and talked with ugly bark-sounding gibberish, with Bagdad looking as primitive as Kabul or Iran. I laughed at the satire but I knew some people would see this as the proof that there is something inherently evil in Muslim people.And that's not the right mindset, not for Muslims, not any people in the world. Typically, "Not Without My Daughter" is the kind of films loved for the wrong reasons. And it could have been a poignant multi-layered drama, it chose to be a one-sided view of reality, one that overshadowed the inspiring story of a courageous mother, as we never got the side of Iranian people, or, for what it's worth, the side of the father.

I seen this movie and wounder how it can be wrong.Firstly it is not a story about an mother and daughter cause it portrayed all Iranian like cruel and bad people, and of course they behave to women like slaves.... ! Some points why we should not believe Betty Mahmoody;First, I admit bad people could be found all around the world, however, this is not just about a bad and cruel husband, she portrayed all Iranians like this. I suggest whoever believe this just google it and see read about Iran.Moreover, I am sure if you do a little bit of effort, you will finally find some Iranians or some who traveled to Iran. Just simply ask them if Iran and Iranians are like this....!!!Definitely, there are some limitations But not what portrayed.... Apart from religion and politics in Iran, women are part of our culture and with all limitation they have had applied their opinion. I admit not like men in recent decades but it is part of their culture from thousands years ago.....!This movie is totally political as governors comes and goes and the changes some laws but they cannot change culture easily. this happened in 1984 just 6 years after revolution and no one can change culture of people even in decades....Just do a little be research about Iran, CULTURE AND PEOPLE and you will see 100 percent lies and discrepancy.....!

When Betty(Field, determined) go with Moody(Molina, transforming from loving to cruel) and their daughter Mahtob(Rosenthal, cute, devoted to her mother) back to his home country of Iran for a two week vacation, they find it very different from last time he was there. Since the revolution, the laws are more strict. And when the fortnight is up, he tells them that they will be staying. It's a dangerous place to be, women have few rights, and a divorce would just mean he gets custody. But she knows she has to get out, and her girl is coming with her. One way or another.I don't know enough about the period to say how realistic this is, but it comes across as credible. We see some of the local customs, and the choice to keep it entirely from their perspective was smart - as long as they are in that country, so are we. The acting is good for all concerned, including children. Some of the dialog and cinematography are odd, taking you out of the experience, when they easily could have been better. Other than that, this is fairly well-produced. This is 108 minutes without the credits, or 111 with.There is some solid tension, albeit these sequences tend to be over too quickly, and removed from any greater context. The pacing is decent at best. This stops and stalls, and it's one of the "based on a true story" pictures that focuses so much on being accurate, it forgets that it's also, ultimately a piece of fiction(not a documentary), and as such, has to entertain. There are plot strands that end up going nowhere, and this is easily 20 minutes too long. By the end, you've simply stopped caring.There is some violent and disturbing content. I recommend this to those who badly want a film about these events. 6/10

as an Iranian, I didn't enjoyed the film. I expected watching one really true story from a woman who experienced the society of Iran. unfortunately it was harmfully wrong. believe it or not, it's narrating an ugly face of Iran which is corresponding with and confirming the clichés have been claimed regarding muslims and Iranians so far. I won't escape from reality but take you(the readers/the watchers) into reality, into what's going on in Iran nowadays. Iran is based on one of the biggest ancient emperor called Persia( Persian gulf, Persian cat, Persian carpet, Persian music). we as Iranian students have never been learnt to curse the West, including America, but respecting the Others as we expected and waited the same rather to us. I learned English and French in Iran's school. I recommend reading the books "orientalism" by Said and "following Muhammad" by Ernst. by the way, I am ready to response and dialogue with whoever wants to know Iran and Islam better in depth. [email protected] is waiting you!