“Honor killing” is a tough subject. It is an issue that has even manifested itself here in the United States. When I think about the paradox of Honor Killing, I think of the words of Thomas Jefferson, who succinctly said “Nobody can acquire honor by doing what is wrong.” The Stoning of Soraya M. examines this touchy subject in a poignant powerful way. Based on a true story, this film will move you.
Freidoune Sahebjam (James Caviezel) is a reporter. He is traveling back to France from a trip to Iran when his car breaks down near a remote village. Sahebjam visits the local café, while his car is being repaired by Hashem (Parviz Sayyad). A local villager, Zahra (Shohreh Aghdashloo) approaches Sahebjam and requests him to visit her home. Unsure about Zahra’s mental stability, Sahebjam reluctantly listens as he is introduced to gut-wrenching events that have transpired recently, resulting in a stoning death the day before.
Soraya M. (Mozhan Marno) has a troubled relationship with her husband Ali (Navid Negahban). Ali has found a fourteen-year-old girl that he wants to marry and wishes to divorce Soraya, but does not want to pay her adequately for the divorce. Although the relationship is abusive, Soraya fears for her daughters if they are left to fend for themselves. She rejects the divorce offer causing Ali to set out on a deceptive path to get his way. Ali is powerful in the small village and has dirt on the local Mullah (Ali Pourtash). The two concoct a scheme to convict Soraya of adultery. In need of a second witness, they pressure the simple-minded Hashem into accusing Soraya. The accusation stands, leading to a public stoning that must be the most disturbing scene I have watched in quite a while.
The Stoning of Soraya M.tells the story of Soraya as it was told to Sahebjam. Rather than simply relating the story itself, the writers (Betsy and Cyrus Nowrasteh created the screenplay from Sahebjam’s novel) opt to include the events surrounding the story. Placing the events inside the context of how they came to light informs the story and adds dimension to the subject matter. It also creates a bit of suspense that adds to the overall feel of the story. The events were brought to life with characters that were very integral to the story-telling. The family dynamics were especially telling. The male dominated society asserts itself through the major themes in this film. However, more subtle iterations of the subject are interjected into the story to create a more complete construction of the social dynamics within the village. These points hit home during the climactic stoning scene when viewers witness the personal nature of the familial relationships and how the events affect various male family members. The writing, along with superb directing by Cyrus Nowrasteh resulted in a story that climaxed in a multi-layered scene that was disturbing on many levels. It was graphically visual with subtle imagery and piercing symbolism.
The strong characters were portrayed through excellent performances. Zhara seems almost anachronistic as a matriarch type character in a male dominated society. The role was perfect for Aghdashloo, whose presence on screen emitted an air of authority and confidence. Her poise along with a sharp delivery endeared her to me. I connected with her character and found myself drawn by her plight. Marno gave credibility to her role as a battered, submissive wife seeking an opportunity to change her fortune. There were some tense scenes that unmasked the vile side of humanity that rested on Marno’s performance. Her ability to elicit emotional responses through her performance was sensational. Negahban created a distasteful antagonist whose loathsomeness created dramatic humiliation that is certain to horrify the audience. The Stoning of Soraya M. was carefully cast with actors capable enough to handle the powerful roles.
The Stoning of Soraya M. was hit with an R rating from the Motion Picture Association of America. This is a difficult film to pigeon-hole, because the rating almost exclusively rests on the climactic scene that has imagery that could easily cause nightmares. It is one of the most horrific depictions of brutal violence against women that I can recall seeing. There are some other scenes that address the same issue that are a bit milder, but the brutality of a stoning will startle your senses. It is numbing. And the portrayal of the reaction of the other characters adds intensity to the scene that accelerates the effect. While there were some instances of strong language and some allusions to adult situations, those contextual elements would have hardly garnered much attention. So where do you go with a rating like this? I think you have to judge this one individually. I would not put an age limit on the subject matter, but that one scene may not be appropriate for any impressionable minds…at least not without a healthy discussion regarding the theme. Run time is one hour, 54 minutes.
The Stoning of Soraya M.left me overwhelmed. The distressful scene that gives this film purpose was difficult to witness, even in a stylized cinematic setting. The subject matter is important, especially when we are faced with courts that want to consider Sharia Law when deciding cases. In the film, they discuss the charge of adultery under Sharia. A woman who charges her husband must prove his guilt, while a woman charged with adultery must prove her innocence. In a world where double standards relegate women to second class status it stupefies me to hear calls to allow these precepts into a courtroom. This film should serve as a stark reminder that there is evil in the world. This film was not so much about Sharia as it was about the corruption of Sharia, so I do not intend to make it sound like that is the lesson I took away from this film. In reality, evil men used the law to deprive a woman of her life through brutal torture until she was dead. But the inequality in that law created the opportunity that was exploited. Whatever lessons you may take from this film, it is a powerful piece of cinema based on a true story. I would highly recommend The Stoning of Soraya M. 9/10.
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