Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Shohreh Aghdashloo | ... | Zahra | |
Mozhan Marnò | ... | Soraya M. | |
Jim Caviezel | ... | Freidoune Sahebjam | |
Navid Negahban | ... | Ali | |
![]() |
Ali Pourtash | ... | Mullah |
David Diaan | ... | Ebrahim | |
![]() |
Parviz Sayyad | ... | Hashem |
![]() |
Vida Ghahremani | ... | Mrs. Massoud |
Vachik Mangassarian | ... | Morteza Ramazani - Soraya's Father | |
![]() |
Bita Sheibani | ... | Leila |
Noor Taher | ... | Kataneh (as Noor Al Taher) | |
![]() |
Haya Al Taher | ... | Malaka |
![]() |
Khalid Khan | ... | Warden |
![]() |
Sheede Dana | ... | Second Woman |
![]() |
Fay Yan | ... | Bita |
A drama set in Iran and centered on a man, Sahebjam, whose car breaks down in a remote village and enters into a conversation with Zahra, who relays to him the story about her niece, Soraya, whose marriage had a tragic ending. Written by Anonymous
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.