Starring
Sally Field – Betty Alfred Molina – Moody Sheila Rosenthal – Mathob
Moody’s family go to Iran for a planned two weeks vacation. This is to visit his family who he really missedso much. He convinced his wife, Betty that they will be safe by swearing to the Qu’ran. When they got to Iran, Betty observed the difference of the Iranian culture to American culture. Eventually she found out that Moody has been fired with the hospital he’s been working with and has no plans at all to go back to the states. Since then, Betty noticed the changes in the behavior of her husband.
Moody became violent, such as, he now beat and hit his wife, he locked her in the room and providing only food for her to eat, he took her passport and credit cards, he shouts at her, he keeps an eye on her all the time, and tried to take away their daughter from her.
I believe that these changes may be attributable to some factors. Like during those times, the Islamic Republic was all over Iran (it started during 1979). During the Islamic regime, laws became harsher. Moody’s family is also a very conservative family and lives in a province. It was mentioned that families who live in the provinces are more devoted and observed Islamic behavior more strictly. Such Islamic behavior is the way men treat their wives, they treat them as a second class citizen and as their possession. Women on the other hand must be obedient to their husband and not to embarrass or insult their husband. They are to give the custody her child to the father when they had divorce. The clothing style is also strict and women should always wear “chador”. The behavior displayed by Moody is accepted in the Islamic Culture/norms. It was noted also in the movie, that in the States, their Iranian husbands are not violent, but when they are in Iran, they become one. It was said that it was “Islamic way”.
My reaction to this is that, people have different beliefs and norms they observe. It depends as well to the environment which they belong. Their behavior is greatly influenced by the society they are interacting with. Like in the movie, the behavior displayed by Moody is accepted in the Islamic Republic. Some of us might not understand or may not fathom this kind of attitude at all because we are not accustomed to this type of norms. We might be as well become “culture shocked” with these, but for them, it is like following a very basic rule. If we can not go on with the type of culture they have, we might at least, render respect so it will not cause any conflict to the other party.
posted by Eloi Casis
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