The Stoning of Soraya M. (2008)

A desperate woman asks for a meeting with a journalist to disclose the cruel and inhumane punishment of her niece.

Director:

Cyrus Nowrasteh

Writers:

Betsy Giffen Nowrasteh (screenplay), Cyrus Nowrasteh (screenplay)

Stars:

Shohreh Aghdashloo, Jim Caviezel, Mozhan Marnò

6 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

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

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

iran | death penalty | murder | stoned to death | barbarism | 

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Taglines:

When a deadly conspiracy became a shameful cover-up, one witness refused to be silent.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

Persian English

Release Date:

9 October 2009 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

La verdad de Soraya M.

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$115,053, 28 June 2009

Gross USA:

$637,421

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,090,260

Company Credits

Production Co:

Roadside Attractions, Mpower Distribution, Mpower Pictures

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Dolby Digital (Spanish dubbing mix)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At the location where the jail scene was to be shot a prison riot broke out the day before causing a lockdown and a "prison" had to be constructed.

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Goofs

When Soraya gives her jewelry to her daughters, both girls cup their hands to receive both items, not knowing which sister is being given which piece. This happens both times, even when the younger daughter has received her necklace already.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Title Card: Don't act like the hypocrite, who thinks he can conceal his wiles while loudly quoting the Koran. - Hafez, 14th Century Iranian Poet

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Connections

Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Public Enemies/Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs/The Stoning of Soraya M (2009)

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Soundtracks

Bandari
Written by Goudarzi
Performed by Goudarzi

User Reviews

Gripping, incredibly effective film

It's actually hard to watch because the whole point of watching it is to arrive at a place where you really dread going. Mozhan Marno, the actress who portrays the title character, is extremely stoic and resolute, desperately trying to be brave about her impending fate -- yet the actress allows us to see her fear poking through the facade, even as the character tries to conceal it. It's an extremely tough trick to pull off, and Marno does so admirably.

Navid Negahban is riveting as Ali, the husband who falsely accuses his wife of adultery so that he can get out of his marriage in order to be with a much younger woman. One by one, he convinces/blackmails the people in Soraya's village to turn against her. The moment in which he coerces his young sons into joining the angry mob and to toss rocks at their own mother's head is one of the most powerful, horrible scenes depicted in a film in recent memory.

It's the type of film that makes your blood boil because of the horrible injustice inflicted upon the innocent. Small, intimate, and gritty. Highly recommended for those that can take this sort of thing.