Starring: Shohreh Aghdashloo, Jim Caviezel and Mozhan Marnò
Directed by: Cyrus Nowrasteh
MPAA Rating: R for a disturbing sequence of cruel and brutal violence, and brief strong language
Genre: Drama/Foreign/In Iranian & English
By John Delia
Finding myself shocked by some of the scenes in the true story of The Stoning of Soraya M, I realized that reviewing this film would not be simple. Wanting to let everyone know that this is an important film however does make it easier. I found the film much like The Passion of the Christ where you just want to say STOP, this can’t be happening.
The account starts with Sahebjam (Caviesel), a journalist, being stranded in a remote village in Iran after his vehicle breaks down. While talking to the mechanic, Zahra (Aghdashloo) a villager sees that Sahebjam is carrying a tape recorder and approaches him. Finding out that indeed he is a reporter, Zahra pleads with him to take down her story of the stoning of her neice Soraya (Marno).
The story was later published in a book by Sahebjam, which tells the story of how Soraya was accused of infidelity by her husband because she would not give him a divorce so he could marry a young 14-year-old. In Iran, the penalty for infidelity is death by stoning. Blackmailing the local Mullah (a religious leader) to go along with the scheme, turning her children against her and threatening her untrue lover he would be a witness, they convince the village’s mayor to put Soraya on trial. Zahra does her best to help Soraya convince the all male tribunal that the charges against her were fabricated, but to no avail.
I can only report what the film depicted, a people whose religion and laws can be easily manipulated to work in a male schemers favor. Although the movie leaned heavily to one side, that of the storyteller’s who painted the gloomy picture of the lies and deceit on the part of the Mullah and Soraya’s husband, nevertheless the consequence that Soraya had to pay was abominable.
The acting by Aghdashloo is astounding as the woman who put her own life in jeopardy to bring this atrocity to light. Under the direction of Nowrasteh who doesn’t hold back anything in the story including the depiction of the stoning, Aghdashloo’s portrayal drew compassion and sadness from this reporter. I was aghast that women are treated with such disrespect and without proper rights as shown in this film.
The film is Rated R for a disturbing sequence of cruel and brutal violence, that of the realistic stoning of the woman half buried in the ground. Be warned that the repeated throwing of rocks at the accused as punishment is a shocking act that may stun you as it did me.
FINAL ANALYSIS: An important true story for those who can withstand the shock.(4.5 of 5 Palm Trees)