Merhan Karimi Nasseri

Mehran Karimi Nasseri, also known as Sir, Alfred Mehran (the comma is intentional), is an Iranian refugee who has been living in the departure lounge of Terminal One in Charles de Gaulle Airport since August 8, 1988.

Fictionalizations of Nasseri

His story provided the inspiration for a French language film in 1993 starring Jean Rochefort and called Tombés du ciel http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108359/ (released under the title Lost in Transit for international audiences). The short story, The Fifteen-Year Layover by Michael Paterniti and published in GQ and The Best American Non-Required Reading, chronicles Nasseri's existence.

Related Topics:
French language - 1993 - Jean Rochefort - Tombés du ciel - Short story - GQ

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Nasseri was reportedly the inspiration behind the 2004 movie The Terminal, however, no publicity materials, the DVD "special features" or the film's website ever mention Nasseri's plight as an inspiration for the film. In fact, the DVD implies that the story was so "incredible" that it leaves the viewer with the impression that the story was solely a result of the screenwriter's imagination.

Related Topics:
2004 - Movie - The Terminal - DVD - Screenwriter

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Despite this, reports, including one in The Guardian http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/featurepages/0,4120,1298104,00.html, indicate that Spielberg's Dreamworks production company paid $250,000 to Nasseri for rights to his story and report that as of 2004 he carried a poster advertising Spielberg's film which hangs from his suitcase next to his bench. Nasseri was reportedly excited about The Terminal, but it was unlikely that he would ever have a chance to see it. "Yes, my interest in America has gone up because of movie," Nasseri was reported to have said. "That is very good."

Related Topics:
The Guardian - Spielberg's - Dreamworks - As of 2004 - Suitcase

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Unlike Tom Hanks' character in the movie, and since at least 1994, Nasseri does not live in the duty-free transit area but simply in the departure hall, in the circular boutiques and restaurants passage on the lowest floor. He can at least theoretically leave the terminal at any moment, although, since everyone knows him, his departure might not remain unnoticed. He does not seem to speak with anyone normally; with his cart and bags, he almost looks like a traveler, so people either do not notice him or ignore him as if he were a homeless person.

Related Topics:
Tom Hanks - 1994 - Duty-free - Homeless person

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The publicity surrounding the movie did not change Nasseri's position. As of September 27, 2005, he was still at Roissy 1, surrounded by a huge amount of boxes (in rather bad shape), next to the Relay shop where his book can be bought. He lacks a front tooth.

Related Topics:
September 27 - 2005 - Roissy

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