The Stoning of Soraya M. (2008)

Directed by: Cyrus Nowrasteh | 114 minutes | drama | Actors: Shohreh Aghdashloo, Mozhan Marnò, Jim Caviezel, Navid Negahban, Ali Pourtash, Parviz Sayyad, Vida Ghahremani, Vachik Mangassarian, Bita Sheibani, Noor Al Taher, Haya Al Taher

In 1990 the book ‘La Femme Lapidée’ by the French-Iranian journalist Freidoune Sahebjam was published, based on his own experiences in Iran. That book served as the basis for the movie ‘The Stoning of Soraya M.’. James Caviezel plays the role of Sahebjam. When Sahebjam is stranded in a rural mountain village in Iran with car trouble, he meets Zahra (Shohreb Aghdashloo). She tells him the horrible story of her cousin Soraya Manutcherhi (Mozhan Marno).

Soraya’s husband Ali (Navid Negaban) wants a divorce with the help of the local mullah (an Islamic cleric) in order to marry a fourteen-year-old girl. When Soraya refuses, Ali devises a plan to get rid of his wife. The solution lies in accusing Soraya of adultery, which carries the death penalty by stoning.

“The Stoning of Soraya M.” is above all a clear indictment of the state of women’s rights in Iran. Although the film is set in the anarchist days of the Iranian revolution, women’s rights are still heavily underexposed today. The woman has no say in the family and when a man wants to get rid of his wife, this is no problem at all with the help of the corrupt authorities of thehe verdict on Soraya is pronounced, the film gets heavier and heavier. The images of a young mother having to say goodbye to her children because she has been sentenced to death, other children collecting stones for this great event and the journey to the place where the sentence will be departed are at least very emotional. And then the actual stoning: these images are so horrible that it is almost unbearable to keep watching. Soraya buried above her waist, the first stone, the blood that presses from her forehead onto her white dress… These are moments when the viewer is no longer allowed to identify with the victim, because then you need a very strong stomach have to endure this real torture. Although these scenes are very cruel, it is very important that they are shown in such detail. The barbaric death penalty by stoning, which still takes place in many countries, has no place in a human world.

On a film-technical level, the structure of the film is very structured. At times the film does feel very American, which makes you wonder whether that was really necessary. This is the only downside, by the way. The acting is rock solid. The Oscar-nominated actress Shohreb Aghdashloo (‘House of Sand and Fog’) in particular steals the show and achieves such a level of acting that can only be attributed to the very greatest. Navid Negaban also portrays his character in a great way. It is really impossible not to feel intense hatred for his character Ali.

“The Stoning of Soraya M.” is a tough film that makes no concessions and cuts down on your emotions like a sledgehammer. Whether you can follow all the scenes with your eyes open remains to be seen. However, don’t let that stop you from watching the movie, because ‘The Stoning of Soraya M.’ comes very close to being a masterpiece.