Not Without My Daughter

Betty Mahmoody, an American mother, travels to Iran with her husband in hopes of reconnecting with relatives and seeing the country. Once there, she becomes trapped as Moody exerts controlling authority and treats the trip as his private drama. Isolated by unfamiliar laws and customs, Betty must shield her daughter Mahtob while searching for any chance to return to the United States. The film follows her struggle to secure help from local officials, sympathetic neighbors, and the limited legal avenues available to an outsider, all while keeping the family safe and intact despite mounting pressure.

Directed by Brian Gilbert, the drama adapts Betty Mahmoody's true story with the help of writers David W. Rintels and William Hoffer. Sally Field stars as Betty, facing a grueling emotional struggle, while Alfred Molina plays Moody and Roshan Seth, Sheila Rosenthal, and Sarah Badel round out a tense supporting cast. Released in 1991, the film lingers on the emotional stakes as Betty fights to protect her daughter and reclaim a sense of home.

Not Without My Daughter grossed about 14.8 million dollars worldwide, representing modest earnings for a dramatic feature released in the early 1990s. The figure reflects the film's appeal to audiences seeking real life crisis stories rather than big screen spectacle.

The film sparked discussion about international custody matters and the vulnerabilities Western families face abroad. Sally Field's portrayal of Betty Mahmoody drew attention to the emotional toll of being separated from loved ones and highlighted how cross cultural tensions can shape personal choices. It remains a reference point in discussions about custody disputes and media depictions of Western women in other nations.

Reviews were mixed, with many critics praising Field's intensity and the film's tense atmosphere, while others argued the portrayal veers toward sensationalism. The core themes focus on a mother's will to protect her child, the strain of cross border control, and the resilience required to challenge a system that favors fathers in legal custody battles. The result is a stark drama that invites reflection on freedom, danger, and the lengths a parent will go to keep a family safe.