The Stoning of Soraya M. (2008)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Cyrus Nowrasteh

Writers (WGA):

Betsy Giffen Nowrasteh (screenplay) &
Cyrus Nowrasteh (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

9 October 2009 (Sweden)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

A drama set in 1986 Iran and centered on a man, Sahebjam (Caviezel), whose car breaks down in a remote...

Plot Keywords:

Iran | Sharia Law | Adultery | Muslim | Public Execution

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Shohreh Aghdashloo	...	Zahra
Mozhan Marnò	...	Soraya M.
James Caviezel	...	Freidoune
Navid Negahban	...	Ali
Ali Pourtash	...	Mullah
David Diaan	...	Ebrahim
Parviz Sayyad	...	Hashem
Vida Ghahremani	...	Bita
Vachik Mangassarian	...	Soraya's Father
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Maggie Parto	...	Vo
Prasanna Puwanarajah	...	Revolutionary Guard
Bita Sheibani	...	Leila
Yousef Shweihat	...	Ringmaster

MPAA:

Rated R for a disturbing sequence of cruel and brutal violence, and brief strong language.

Runtime:

USA:116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

Persian | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (British Columbia/Ontario) | Sweden:15 | Norway:15

Company:

Fallen Films

Quotes:

Zahra: A Sheikh? More like a holy whore.

A gripping and intense cinematic experience

I can't remember the last time I had such a gripping and emotional experience in movie theatre. In the screening I attended there was audible sobbing and gasps throughout a large part of the film.

Sohreh Aghdashloo is excellent in her portrayal of the feisty Zarah. Newcomer Marzhan Marno is equally moving, and sympathetic in her role of the title character. I'll be surprised if come award time these ladies are not recognized for their work.

Though some have criticized the portrayals of the male characters as unbelievable I found them to be very accurate. Let's not pretend that sexism and religious hypocrisy are something new...even in our own society. These are men who abuse religious laws and principals for their own gain and too keep women subservient. However, the director does show other sides of these characters as well, struggling with their own beliefs and decisions (in private as to not show weakness in public).

The film is beautifully filmed as well, with the sweeping shots of the village landscape and the poetic images of chadors moving in the wind.

I never come on IMDb to write reviews, but 'The Stoning of Soroya M.' was such an intense and beautiful film that I had to spread the word. It deserves a much wider release than its getting, because its a breath of fresh air in a summer movie season full of inane comedies and action romps.