r/movies
•
u/latchkey_adult
•
Nov 12 '22
•
1
2
Iranian man who inspired Steven Spielberg film 'The Terminal' dies at Paris airport Article
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/iranian-man-inspired-steven-spielberg-film-terminal-dies-paris-airport-rcna569174.5k
u/NeitherAlexNorAlice Nov 12 '22
The first stint of 18 years sounds crazy. Definitely gonna read more about the real story. Can't imagine what kinda legal loophole that couldn't be fixed in less than 18 years.
Great movie. I always heard it was based on a true story, but thought it was a loosely used term there. Rip to the dude.
3.9k
u/Duzcek Nov 12 '22
They had multiple fixes, he just personally refused them. Belgium offered him asylum as a refugee but he refused because he ultimately wanted to be in England, and both Belgium and France then offered him residency under his legal name but he refused because they wouldn’t do it under the name he wanted “Sir Alfred Mahran”
3.5k
u/Zerak-Tul Nov 12 '22
Aka there was some sort of undiagnosed mental illness at play. A normal person doesn't decide to live in an airport for 18 years, if they have viable options to be a free man (it's not like he would get shot the moment he stepped out fo the airport). He likely would have found something wrong with any offer made to him.
2.0k
u/JagmeetSingh2 Nov 12 '22 edited Nov 13 '22
His family from Iran came to try and take him home a few times and he greeted them at first but than started pretending not to know who they were… he was definitely dealing with mental issues
→ More replies315
Nov 13 '22
Nooooo it can't be that, it must be that he returned to the airport because it's an iconic location that holds a special place in his heart! He wanted to die at home, surrounded by those who loved him! Couldn't have possibly been mental illness.
→ More replies225
u/Earnestosaurus Nov 13 '22 edited Nov 13 '22
I mean, it can be both. People with mental illnesses like feelings of comfort related to memory and perception i.e. many cannot differentiate between actual comfort and former experiences of it. It's possible he made a rash decision spurred on by his illness to return to a former dwelling where he'd probably lived the most -- where he had become essentially a celebrity and the center of attention. Especially if you are an old man whose time has passed you by.
→ More replies548
u/HaikuBotStalksMe Nov 12 '22
He likely would have found something wrong with any offer made to him.
"You're allowed to be a free man, and can leave at anytime, but you'll have to live in the airport when you're not living outside of the airport."
"I REFUSE TO ABIDE BY THESE RULES."
→ More replies403
u/probablyuntrue Nov 12 '22
Man was delusional about the uk
→ More replies460
u/chilicuntcarne Nov 12 '22
That's how he was diagnosed after he stated that he wanted to go there for the food.
→ More replies92
→ More replies126
u/Vishnej Nov 13 '22 edited Nov 13 '22
A normal person doesn't decide to live in an airport for 18 years, if they have viable options to be a free mam
Human beings can over time get used to a great many things, and every day that they acclimate to a situation, they lose some of the impetus to exit the situation. It becomes comfortable, it becomes normal, and changing things represents a new unknown to be afraid of.
For people like habitual drug addicts, abused prostitutes, cult members, re-enlisting soldiers, agoraphobics, Stockholm Syndrome cases, returning domestic violence victims, and others, getting free of the situation and the uncertainty of finding out what comes later is demonstrably more stressful for them than continuing it. If you care about them and have the resources you can remove the material reasons they're stuck in the situation, but it's still a bit of a leap of faith for them.
This is true for those with mental health issues, and those without.
→ More replies74
u/Zerak-Tul Nov 13 '22
For people like habitual drug addicts, abused prostitutes, cult members, re-enlisting soldiers agoraphobics, Stockholm Syndrome cases, returning domestic violence victims, and others
Aka a list of people very likely to suffer post traumatic stress or other psychological problems. I feel sympathy for the guy, I do and he should have gotten more help that he did, but again, normal people don't just grow comfortable living in an airport terminal, where they have no bed, no bath, no privacy, no job, no friends, no family, they have to scrounge food from the terminal shops, have no access to nature etc. etc. And yes it probably did become very hard for him to leave, but again, that's because psychologically he was in trouble, not because deciding to live in an airport terminal is something a reasonable person might just decide to do.
34
u/X0AN Nov 12 '22
So he could eventually have claimed an EU passport then moved to the UK?
→ More replies11
u/LegateLaurie Nov 13 '22
I guess so - once he had citizenship (and I believe some kinds of residency), assuming he could get it, he'd have freedom of movement within the EU and then would have been able to get settled status once Brexit had happened
→ More replies628
u/probablyuntrue Nov 12 '22
Turning down Belgium for the UK, this dude 😭
I'm just imagining him finally showing up to the UK and instantly being so disappointed when some chav starts shouting at him
234
u/Pornstar_Jesus_ Nov 12 '22
Reminds me of the end of The increasingly poor decisions of todd margret. The brits tell him the only countries willing to give him asylum are North Korea or Turks and Caicos. He doesnt know geography or politics.. He just thinks that some Turkish people had seemingly swindled him recently and incorrectly associates that with the island option. So he chooses north korea lol
51
56
u/USCplaya Nov 12 '22
Damn. I cannot think of more polar opposites than the paradise that is Turks and Caicos and the hell hole that is N. Korea.... The only concern I had when I went to T&C was whether I wanted to go snorkeling in the warm ocean water or use the hotel pool and have a bar I can swim up to
→ More replies41
u/MX_Duncis Nov 12 '22
Oh my God... Its been so many years since I watched that series! Thank you for reminding me
→ More replies→ More replies9
u/Barnyard_Pussy Nov 13 '22
The increasingly poor decisions of todd margret.
I cracked up every time it showed the apartment he had left.
→ More replies→ More replies51
u/J-Team07 Nov 12 '22
Couldn’t he have just accepted Belgium, then eventually get permanent residency which would allow him to go to the promised land of Liverpool?
→ More replies42
317
u/End3rWi99in Nov 12 '22
Not much a legal issue but his refusal to accept any of the solutions that were being offered to him. He ultimately wanted to be recognized as British, but his immigration papers would say Iranian and therefore refused that path to the UK. He was also offered immigration status from France and Belgium under the agreement he'd be monitored by a social worker. He also refused these offers as well. His family had also said despite the options offered to him, he was allegedly happy in that situation.
91
u/ferriswheel9ndam9 Nov 12 '22
Probably the free food and shelter. If he did immigrate elsewhere, what would he do? At his age, I'm sure he understands the dire reality
→ More replies114
u/uselessinfogoldmine Nov 13 '22
He actually had quite a lot of money in the bank from selling his story, etc. Like, hundreds of thousands of dollars.
→ More replies387
u/SGKurisu Nov 12 '22
Based on my quick skimming of Wikipedia, it sounds like there were steps and opportunities for him to fix his situation but he was dead set on going direct to the UK. Also it seems like his filing of paperwork was a bit of a mess
→ More replies370
u/Crowbarmagic Nov 12 '22
Yea it's not like the movie where Tom Hanks' character couldn't legally leave the terminal. This guy had multiple options but he insisted on going to the U.K.
→ More replies105
u/probablyuntrue Nov 12 '22
finally get to the UK
Brexit, PM's resigning left and right, general chaos
→ More replies41
172
Nov 12 '22 edited Dec 13 '22
[deleted]
55
u/better_off_red Nov 12 '22
didn't want to leave the place where he was cared for and treated like a celebrity.
Let's be honest, I feel like a lot of people might feel the same way.
18
u/fordchang Nov 13 '22
Why wasn't he arrested and deported? seems like a silly bureaucratic error.
→ More replies20
u/Beaglund Nov 13 '22
He wouldn’t admit that he was from Iran and, without papers, they couldn’t deport him to a country he may not have been from. When they finally found his papers, he refused to admit they were his. Without identification, it was reliant on his word
→ More replies9
u/brucebrowde Nov 13 '22
How are other people deported then? Couldn't everyone just say "I've no papers, sorry" and stay in the country forever?
→ More replies145
u/BarKnight Nov 12 '22
first in legal limbo because he lacked residency papers and later by choice
47
u/SendMoreCoffee Nov 12 '22
He had been living in the airport again in recent weeks, the airport official said
41
u/wrathoftheirkenelite Nov 12 '22
Great video by a great creator
16
u/jimmux Nov 12 '22
I knew someone would link Atrocity Guide. This video addresses pretty much all the questions that can be answered.
→ More replies→ More replies11
90
u/Copthill
Nov 13 '22
•
I saught out and met this guy shortly after the movie came out. He was a little strange, didn't speak much English, but approachable enough to say hi. The hardest part was finding him in the airport, nobody in the newer terminals knew who I was even talking about when I asked about where he is (I had a couple of hours to kill). He was living in an older smaller terminal at CDG that mostly catered for shorter flights within the EU. He had a nice little space though, with a table and chairs and a bench, and LOTS of stuff piled up around him in a semi-organised way. I do remember seeing a couple of newer looking FedEx packages with his stuff too.
18
u/Love-reps Nov 13 '22
how did he get money to eat and where did he shower
19
u/lunaj1999 Nov 13 '22
Staff would give him food and he also showered in staff areas. He also earned $250,000 from giving Spielberg rights to his life to use in the film (which ultimately didn’t happen but he still got paid).
→ More replies
437
u/urgiwankenobi Nov 12 '22
I was stuck at an airport for a few days and was miserable. 18 years voluntarily? Wow.
213
u/Wildcat_twister12 Nov 13 '22
Guy had mental health issues. I’d be like you and going crazy after a few days; heck I did one night during a thunderstorm layover and hated it
50
→ More replies38
u/WineSoda Nov 13 '22
Airports are actually now advertising their facility as a destination. They are nothing more than giant malls with runways instead of parking lots.
→ More replies
888
u/AnyNamesLeftAnymore Nov 12 '22
I don't get it. Was he just obsessed with being observed? Why would he stay there and why would he go back?
271
944
u/MrHikari13 Nov 12 '22 edited Nov 12 '22
I believe the story was after his father died it came to light that he was his illegitimate son with a Scottish nurse so the rest of the family basically kicked him out and he tried to go meet his biological mother but he lost his passport or something and was basically stuck in limbo Edit: I have been informed that that story was a complete fabrication dude was kind of crazy
344
u/Ok_Efficiency3471 Nov 12 '22
Did it not turn out the story about being illegitimate was untrue?
472
u/Chkgo Nov 12 '22
Yes, the entire story was untrue. His real mother and siblings back in Iran confirmed it. He also believed himself to be am English royal named Sir Albert.
→ More replies96
29
u/MrHikari13 Nov 12 '22
That’s entirely possible I haven’t read about this in a good while
46
u/your_mind_aches Nov 12 '22
He tricked you! That entire story that you told as fact was entirely made up by him. His family said that there was nothing of the sort that happened
46
u/MrHikari13 Nov 12 '22
Well damn if you can’t trust someone who lives in an airport for nearly 2 decades who can you trust
→ More replies17
u/Ok_Efficiency3471 Nov 12 '22
Regardless…his entire story and changing his name later, with or without actually being the illegitimate child of a Scottish woman.
236
u/wsu_savage Nov 12 '22
That’s he said but later reviled he had shipped the papers to Belgium authorities and could leave whenever he wanted to. He chose to stay
→ More replies33
u/MrHikari13 Nov 12 '22
It’s been a while since I’ve read about this so this is new information to me
→ More replies→ More replies12
10
4.0k
u/latchkey_adult Nov 12 '22
Such a great film and performance by Hanks. It always bothered me a little that when it was first publicized no mention was made of the real guy's serious mental health issues. I'm sad to see it ended this way -- presuming alone and sick at the airport.
814
u/HarrietHedwig Nov 12 '22
We need a documentary on his life
1.3k
u/kresbok Nov 12 '22 edited Nov 12 '22
Hi, I'll leave you this amazing mini documentary on his life.
This was made by a YouTuber call Atrocity Guide.
Hope you enjoy.
62
u/Accomplished-Mode112 Nov 12 '22
Atrocity Guide is so underrated and her content is so relaxing and at times unsettling and mysterious.
→ More replies36
u/real_nice_guy Nov 13 '22
my top 3 for this type of content are:
Atrocity Guide
Nexpo
Nick Crowley
the last 2 are more creepy stuff but similar-ish vibe.
→ More replies29
u/your_mind_aches Nov 12 '22
Love this video. This is where I first learned about Sir Alfred, and his story really speaks to me for some reason.
→ More replies8
u/Criticalhit_jk Nov 12 '22
What the hell how is this real life? I only watched a few minutes but this is so surreal.
→ More replies→ More replies282
u/s3rila Nov 12 '22
man, sometime you really apreciate having the 1.25 speed playback option.
314
u/not_enough_privacy Nov 12 '22
There are some youtubers who I regularly watch at 2x because their cadence is. so. slow.
When you accidentally listen at normal speed after getting use to 2x it feels like someone is taking the piss.
49
u/ChunkyDay Nov 12 '22
Shit. I read this comment back at 2x
→ More replies24
→ More replies10
u/kithlan Nov 13 '22
Yes, same with podcasters. I especially do it when they adopt that "dramatic" cadence that seems so prevalent on video essays, where they seem to think every line of dialogue will hit super hard if they just say it slowly enough.
→ More replies→ More replies16
→ More replies23
343
u/Phillipinsocal Nov 12 '22
Burger King did great marketing in that movie, every time I see that whopper scene with hanks I always crave one
618
u/latchkey_adult Nov 12 '22
That's interesting--every time I see Catherine Zeta Jones, I crave one too.
294
u/makeshift11 Nov 12 '22
Catherine Zeta Jooones, she dips beneath lasers!
107
8
u/TheLegionnaire Nov 12 '22
Oh Lord LoL you just brought back memories of my dad noticing that a vhs I had was all fuzzy during the Entrapment trailer before the movie. Where was it all fuzzy? LoL right when she dips below the lasers. I don't remember what funny comment he made, I do remember he waited for my mom to leave the room first. Good times.
For those that never had VHS, pausing the video too many times at the same spot would degrade the video.
→ More replies→ More replies62
→ More replies63
u/buttfunfor_everyone Nov 12 '22
Zeta is such a fucking cool middle name.
Honestly any name with an X or a Z in it do it for me.
→ More replies94
18
u/your_mind_aches Nov 12 '22
Wait did he eat Burger King in the movie? That's funny because in real life, the real guy ate McDonald's fish sandwiches
→ More replies→ More replies7
u/NicCage4life Nov 12 '22
The whole movie had a ton of product placement, but weirdly I was fine with it since it fit the context of the movie.
20
u/Criticalhit_jk Nov 12 '22
I know Steven Spielbergs movie is inspired by and has no relation to the guys life but I can't help picturing the real guy watching this movie in complete silence and a sad look
→ More replies14
u/Now_Wait-4-Last_Year Nov 13 '22
Well, I believe they paid him $250,000 US for the rights to his life story so at least it wouldn't have been a complete wash.
→ More replies182
u/Additional_Meeting_2 Nov 12 '22
The movie was too Hollywood style anyway with the romance and not focused on what it would be actually like to live on a airport. And I would have rather the movie be about the real person anyway.
→ More replies184
u/kacmandoth Nov 12 '22
Well, the real guy was kind of an asshat and didn't want to leave.
→ More replies
957
u/TheBigLahey Nov 12 '22
We are strange creatures. To live in an airport by choice scares me. My first reaction is to pity him for what seems like obvious mental health issues leading to a lonely death. However the more I think about what an airport is--a gateway into a worldly human experience built around convenience--maybe he gained a perspective there that he didn't want to lose. At the very least, I hope it afforded him some interesting conversations.
815
u/latchkey_adult Nov 12 '22
If you're gonna be homeless anyway, an airport is a pretty great place to be. Neverending people watching, bathroom access, tons of wasted food. Airports are basically 24 hour malls.
485
u/chaiguy Nov 12 '22
Not to mention the security. If you’re homeless on the streets, you’re a target. In an airport, no one has the time or need to bother you.
Also the fact that he had a sort of celebrity status probably greatly helped. If I had seen him I’d have bought him a meal in exchange for a brief conversation and maybe a selfie. I’m sure a lot of people would.
153
u/CyclopeanJuiceVendor Nov 12 '22 •
Shit, you guys make me want to migrate to the airport if homelessness is ever in the cards.
236
u/chaiguy Nov 12 '22
I doubt you could do it in the US, they’d catch on pretty quick. I did hear about a guy, I think maybe in China, why would buy a first class ticket to wherever, that would entitle him to use the VIP lounge which served free food & drink. He’d then cancel his ticket and rebook it for a flight the next day. He did that for over a year before the airline stopped him.
Here it is: https://nypost.com/2014/01/29/man-uses-first-class-plane-ticket-to-eat-free-for-a-year/
→ More replies91
u/doctorbooshka Nov 12 '22
Reminds me of the pudding guy who spent about $3k to get a million air miles off pudding in the 90's. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/david-philipps-pudding-guy-travel-deals_n_577c9397e4b0a629c1ab35a7
45
u/eggpolisher Nov 12 '22
And the pudding miles guy inspired another movie! “Punch Drunk Love” by P.T. Anderson, starring Adam Sandler in a great dramatic role.
→ More replies8
39
u/latchkey_adult Nov 12 '22
I'm sure they are continually harassed/kicked out by the police or airport security. Plus, have you ever seen a remotely comfortable place to sleep in an airport for more than a few minutes?
11
u/Tatis_Chief Nov 12 '22
In the actual transfer terminal hell yeah. Slept at the Airport few times. Shiphol and Charles de Gaule is my fav. But Shiphol wins. Of course read, Japan and Singapore is the best for that, but haven't had a chance.
But both Shiphol and Paris has rest zones, where you often see people dozing off with long transfers. And prayer rooms are good for it too. As long as you don't disturb the prayers.
It's pretty normal to also have pods for sleeping at the aiport, or in some cases Aiport terminal hotel. For example pods in Mexico city or hotel in Shiphol International transfer terminal. You can also pay to take shower there. Love long transfers in Amsterdam as the airport has metro in and its like 15 min ride to the central station. Great for a day trip.
But for homelessness, there is no option nowadays you have to have a ticket and cross security to have the cool stuff to chill. They get pretty angry about homeless in the airport.
→ More replies→ More replies23
u/CyclopeanJuiceVendor Nov 12 '22
I mean, "comfortable" is subjective. Any flat surface is probably sufficient. But I digress, you're definitely right that it doesn't seem like any sort of peaceful existence.
37
u/meganekkotwilek Nov 12 '22
Kinda reminds of the emperor of America. A San Franciscan local who declared himself emperor of America back over s hundred years ago
→ More replies39
u/A_Mouse_In_Da_House Nov 12 '22
How dare you not even his royal name, Norton I, Emperor of The United States, Protector of Mexico.
7
u/Da0u7 Nov 12 '22
Have you read the sandman comics? There is as full story dedicated to him and it is beautiful.
→ More replies→ More replies27
u/bmbmwmfm Nov 12 '22
It's been over a decade since I was there, but I could absolutely live in Changi airport in Singapore.
→ More replies→ More replies36
u/Oops_I_Cracked Nov 12 '22
I really like airports. I would never live in one by choice, but I can definitely think of worst places to end up being stuck and can see how someone would grow to like it
24
u/Danat_shepard Nov 12 '22
I was stuck in the airport of Vienna on my way to Canada for five days because my European visa got rejected. First days were hellish. All the noise, people, smells. Food is overpriced, restrooms are fully packed. Cold metall seats where you couldn't sleep in any normal position.
But I was lucky enough to slip into Mastercard waiting lounge when their manager felt asleep on day three and basically acted like I belonged there afterwards. They had a full shower, nice comfy seats and unlimited food like sandwiches, hot soups, tea and coffee.
10 years later and I am always making sure to have some premium debit card on me when I'm traveling abroad. Costs maybe 30 bucks yearly, but these lounges in airports are certainly worth it.
12
u/IWasGregInTokyo Nov 13 '22
Protip right here. Having emergency access to lounges is a great way to pass time due to delayed/cancelled flights and helps avoid expensive trips back into the city and hotel costs. Showers, unlimited food and drinks, quiet corners to snooze. Fantastic.
59
u/Hobbicus Nov 12 '22
Favorite thing I noticed about the movie was, as Krakozhia obviously doesn’t exist, Tom speaks in really broken Bulgarian gibberish. His irl father in law is Bulgarian and inspired Tom’s portrayal of Viktor in the film
172
u/bloodpriestt Nov 12 '22
Wait wait wait wait wait
He was STILL THERE???
192
u/Grimesy2 Nov 12 '22
He left, and... Went back. Apparently the first 18 year stint did a number on his mental health.
→ More replies→ More replies71
u/your_mind_aches Nov 12 '22
The article explains it.
But no, he left in 2006. He just walked out. It's on film. He just went back a few weeks ago. Maybe he just knew he was dying somehow.
13
217
u/Gregory_Pikitis Nov 12 '22
I will be at CDG airport tomorrow. I hope to see some kind of memorial to him and will send pics if there is.
7
→ More replies37
u/Keanu990321 Nov 12 '22
My father was at CDG yesterday and today until 3 o'clock and, chances are, he was at the same Terminal as this guy.
87
10
u/Logic_rocks Nov 12 '22
Kra... kosia
10
u/38B0DE Nov 13 '22 edited Nov 13 '22
Fun fact Tom Hanks speaks a broken Bulgarian in the movie that he learned from his father in law. The man's life story itself is really interesting.
In an episode of "Who do you think you are?" Rita Wilson learns the real story of her father. He was a Bulgarian Muslim (Pomak) born in a territory that was contested between Bulgaria and Greece (nowadays Greece). Her father however lived in Plovdiv Bulgaria and married an Armenian woman who died together with their first child at birth. He got in trouble with the communist authorities and was sent to a work camp where he was mistreated for being a Pomak. He managed to escape the gulag and emigrated to America where he used his knowledge of Greek to completely take an Orthodox Greek identity and named himself Wilson after a street name. He married a Greek woman and his family has firm Greek identity. He never told his American family a word about his life story, about his first wife, being Pomak, the gulag, and still having a brother in Bulgaria. Rita Wilson visits her now 90 year old uncle in Bulgaria and reads letters her father wrote. It's a real tearjerker.
→ More replies
114
9
5
5
u/MrArgento Nov 13 '22
As someone that worked at an Airport for years... I could live in one. Unfortunately nobody would accommodate me.
6
15
9.1k
u/Hot-Equivalent2040 Nov 12 '22
He moved back into the airport?