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The Stoning of Soraya M.
2009 114 min United States of America R 16+
★7.3
Crime, Drama
Director: Cyrus Nowrasteh
🎭 Based on
«The Stoning of Soraya M.: A True Story»
byFreidoune Sahebjam
Trailers
Description
In 1986 Iran, Sahebjam, whose car breaks down in a remote village, enters into a conversation with Zahra, who relays to him the story about her niece, Soraya, whose arranged marriage to an abusive tyrant ended in tragedy.
US Gross:
$637,421
Worldwide:
$1.1M
Starring
Shohreh Aghdashloo
Actor
Jim Caviezel
Actor
Mozhan Navabi
Actor
Awards
8 wins & 8 nominations
Key opinion
The Stoning of Soraya M. is widely regarded as a harrowing and emotionally devastating depiction of systemic injustice and the manipulation of religious dogma to enforce patriarchal control. While the performances are lauded for their raw intensity, the film remains deeply polarizing due to its interpretation of Islamic culture and the intent behind its brutal subject matter.
| Acting | Shohreh Aghdashloo's powerful performance provides an essential emotional anchor for the film's tragic narrative. | |
| Theme | The film effectively portrays how individuals exploit religious and traditional rhetoric to mask personal lust and power-seeking. | |
| Emotion | The depiction of the execution and the surrounding societal climate is visceral, disturbing, and leaves a profound impact on the audience. | |
| Culture | Opinions are divided on the film's cultural portrayal: many viewers praise its critique of human cruelty, while others argue it relies on xenophobic stereotypes and paints an inaccurate, monolithic picture of Islamic society. |