If you still haven’t watched the amazing Tom Hanks movie, The Terminal, it’s about time to do so. On the other hand, if you have already seen it, did you know that it was inspired by true events?
In fact, and although it may seem that it’s mere fiction, and can’t be based on a true story, Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster that was released in 2004, has indeed happened in real life before. Without further ado, here is the true story that inspired one of the best movies of all time, ‘The Terminal.’
What Is The Movie About?
In case you still haven’t gotten the chance to watch the brilliant movie, here is a quick recap of the plot (no spoilers.) Tom Hanks plays the role of a Balkan traveler, who got stuck in JFK airport in New York.
During his trip to the US, his country got dragged into a civil war, which invalidated his passport and visa. Therefore, due to the situation, he was denied entry to the United States, but couldn’t return to his Eastern Europe either. Therefore, he had to live at the airport for months, until a solution is found.
Iranian Man lived At The Airport For 15 Years
Although the movie plot was directed trough Spielberg’ colored glasses, the real life, the story wasn’t as optimistic. Actually, Mehran Karimi Nasseri, an Iranian refugee who arrived to Paris’ Charles-De-Gaule airport in 1988, and was denied access to the country since he had no passport nor legal documentations.
In fact, Nasseri lost his papers while transiting in Paris on his way to England. 15 years later, authorities had found a way to deport him back, but he was afraid to go back to Iran in fear of being killed by soldiers. So instead, he stayed at the airport in Paris, reading all the books he could find.
Theories Claim That Nasseri Chose Self-Imposed Exile
There are different explanation to why Nasseri chose living at an airport rather than being sent back home. Most theories claim that he chose a self imposed exile, because his mental health got severely damaged after living for 15 years at an airport terminal. Alexis Kouros, an Iranian documentary filmmaker and doctor, tried to help him leave for Brussels, claimed that ”He used to be a normal person. By spending 15 years in that place, he has become institutionalized.”
Furthermore, Nasseri was paid for Spielberg to use his story in ”The Terminal.” However, since he didn’t have access to his bank account, everything was reportedly handled by his lawyer until he finally was able to leave in 2004, few months after the movie was released.
Photos: Pixabay, Youtube.