Not Without My Daughter

REFLECTIVE ESSAY
HOMER B. OLIVARES
BS ARCHITECTURE 5A
GAYLORD D. DELA CRUZ
BS ARCHITECTURE 5A
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.
NOT WITHOUT MY DAUGHTER
Reflective Essay
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 men and 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 of 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 a 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.
Alberto Jose D. Endeno

BS Architecture 5A

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REFLECTIVE ESSAY

The movie entitled “not without my daughter” is a true to life story,

Separations can be change if we could understand each other by language

Alberto Jose D. Endeno

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