ETHICS

Final Output

Princess Mae C. Desacula December 7,

2021
BSME-3B

MOVIE ANALYSIS: NOT WITHOUT MY DAUGHTER

Culture, Religion and Races are the main reason that separates each of one of us.
Through Culture we are different by means of behavior, the way of life we had and the
way we do things which we learn or inherit from our past generations. In Religion we are
divided of whom we believe and worship by faith. Races segregates us from the skin
color or the physical appearance and social qualities that we have. But these
separations can be change.
The movie entitled "not without my daughter" is a true to life story, experienced by a
mother and a child effort and struggle whose searching for freedom from the country
that they are not supposed to be. A lifelong journey finding its way back home, to the
place they were used to live peacefully without any restrictions of the law, gender, dress
code, communication and living. The story starts when an American woman, Betty
Mahmoody goes to Iran with her Iranian husband and their daughter for a two-week
vacation. He has guaranteed her that they would return to United States of America and
oath to the Koran. That's why Betty agreed for a vacation that her husband asking for
without knowing the real plan of her husband. Because he was so depressed and
rejected about the racism of the American medical establishment his working as a
Doctor, he changes his mind and decides to live in Iran permanently. By the time they
were expected to go home her husband already told her that they are going to go back
in the United States of America. She shows frustration and his husband becomes more
cruel, obnoxious and brutal to her. We all know that Iran is an Islamic country also
known as Persia. A world of Islamic fundamentalism, which it depicts in shrill terms as
one of men who beat their wives, of a religion that honors women by depriving them of
what would be considered basic human rights. Aside from those kinds of situation Betty
didn't lose hope. She managed to escape Iran no matter what danger they went
through. She believes in herself, asking for guidance with God just to give a better
future for her child.
Separations can be change if we could understand each other by language and proper
communication. We could also understand each other if we get into their situation for us
to know the exact reasons of their ways. Also, a proper orientation, information,
education and respect is the best way to understand each other's view regardless of the
culture, religion and races which will enlighten people about the issues. With that, unity
can be achieved, with unity there is love, when there is love there is integrity and with
integrity there is harmony.
The movie is about the family relationship changed by culture and religion differences.
Betty, the wife is an American woman who is married to a Muslim named Moody. They
had a daughter named Mahtob. They live peacefully in America. Moody works as a
doctor and has already lived twenty years in America. Moody as a doctor have
experienced of being discriminated in his work and one day he got fired. Betty didn’t
know about what Moody’s plan is, he lied to his family that they will just take a vacation
in Iran for Mahtob to meet her relatives in Iran. His plan was to stay there for good.
As shown in the movie, also in real life, that Iran is under a very strict and dangerous
situation that is why Betty wants to leave Iran together with her daughter. Moody didn’t
allow them to go. He wants them to stay in Iran with him. Under these circumstances,
Moody from a loving and caring husband to a very scary husband who even hits him
and tempt to kill her. Those behavior of Moody was the side of him she had never seen
before.
Because Iran has different political policies compared to America. The life became hard
for Betty and her daughter, Mahtob, to stay in that country. This differences in political
policies and unequal rights for menand women prevented Betty from escaping the Iran.
One of the policy tackled in movie is that when she went to the embassy of Iran, the
embassy says if a foreign woman is married with Iranian man, the wife and the child will
automatically convert into Iranian citizen. In order for them to leave the country, the wife
must be divorced from his Iranian husband. One thing why Betty cannot escape is the
reason, if she was caught escaping, this will result to her execution to that country. The
differences in culture and religion in Iran has changed the life the family and that
resulted to their misunderstandings and later on for taking the wife and the daughter as
a hostage. The life of Betty and Mahtob was hard for reason that they have no freedom
and right justice.
As the movie reaches the climax, Betty did her best to escape until she meets people
who can help her, and her daughter get smuggled out of the country. Still, it wasn’t that
easy despite of the people helping her. The movie ends where she finds the American
embassy and was concluded that she and her daughter safely got back to America.
Betty became a successful writer and lecturer who helps people who are experiencing
similar situation of what she had experienced in Iran. Before marrying person, both
sides must consider first in what culture and religion they both came from, and what are
the consequences of marrying someone with different nationality or religion to avoid
culture or faith conflicts.
For me, if I were the Father, which is Moody, I think the love for my family must win over
what my relatives has to say. Moody must be courageous and stand for what is right. In
terms of the differences between cultures and religion, yes it is hard to decide, but with
right and good communication between the couple will be the key to solve the problem
and will result to positive outcome. Betty shows bravery which women these days must
adapt. The lesson I have learned in this movie is about knowing other culture and
religion without judging them.
Yes, I recommend this movie to be seen for two reasons. One reason is because of the
undeniable dramatic strength of its structure and performances. It is impossible not to
identify with this mother and her daughter, and field is very effective as a brave,
resourceful woman who is determined to free herself and her daughter from involuntary
captivity.
The second reason is harder to explain. I think the movie should be seen because it is
an invitation to thought. It can be viewed as simply as a one-sided and bitter attack. But
it also provides an opportunity for testing our own prejudices, our own sense of fairness.