The Stoning of Soraya M details
| Formats: | 18 DVD, LOVEFiLM Instant |
|---|---|
| Starring: | Shohreh Aghdashloo, Mozhan Marnò, Mozhan Marno, Navid Negahban, Ali Pourtash, David Diaan, Parviz Sayyad, Vida Ghahremani, Vachik Mangassarian, James Caviezel, Maggie Parto |
| Director: | Cyrus Nowrasteh |
| Genres: | Drama - General, World Cinema - Middle East |
| Studio: | HIGH FLIERS |
| Collections: | December - LOVEFiLM picks |
| Title | Runtime | Certificate | |
|---|---|---|---|
The Stoning of Soraya M |
1hr 54 mins | 18 |
LOVEFiLM Instant Information
| Run time: | 1 hour 54 minutes |
|---|---|
| Rental release: | To be confirmed |
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Most helpful review
A shocking true story
By rafi (36 reviews) from Beverley , 29 Dec 2009[Highly rated reviewer]
[Highly rated reviewer]
This true and disturbing drama tells the story of a young woman, mother of four, who refuses to divorce her husband. Her husband, Ali, wishes to marry a 14 year-old girl, take his two sons and leave Soraya with their two daughters. He is not prepared to pay for their subsistence and Soraya, who has never worked and does not have a profession, refuses. The husband can certainly go but she demands that he takes responsibility. Ali remains adamant in his refusal. He decides to send the village religious authority to convince her to grant the required divorce by proposing her that he, the religious “sage” who represents godly authority on earth, will take care of her and her daughters; in return, all he asks is that she will become his mistress. Soraya refuses the generous deal.
Soraya is then asked to do house work for a neighbor who recently had lost his wife. This will provide her with some income, and she agrees. Ali masterminds a plan to get rid of his wife once and for all. If he is able to prove that Soraya is unfaithful to him by bringing forward two witnesses, Islam dictates that her fate is death by stoning. Ali is able to provide two testimonies. The village “sages” convene to affirm the verdict. Soraya’s fate is now sealed.
The film director, Cyrus Nowrasteh, does not spare us any details. For long minutes that seem eternal we witness how stoning is conducted in today’s Iran. Soraya is half buried in sand. A line is drawn a few meters away from her. The village men stand behind the line. Soraya’s father receives the honour of throwing the first stone at her. Ali, the “betrayed” husband, is next. Soraya’s two sons are asked to take part as well. They do, with the encouragement of their father. And then all the rest. Soraya’s long, agonizing death, lingers on and on until her entire white dress is covered with her blood and you, the film audience, pray that this will end, soon. This shocking true story that portrays the utter lack of basic human rights for women in some parts of the Islamic world is certainly the strongest film I have seen this year, a film that will remain with me for many years to come.- Was this review helpful to you?
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(134)if you only watch one film this year..make it this one!!
By tiggytumnus (64 reviews) from Waterlooville , 16 May 2013This has to be the most heatbreaking touching and totally moving films ive seen in years. The most horrific fact is that this is a true story of the bravery of one woman and her aunt who face daily the oppression and lies and corruption of the men in their village. The story begins with a journalist who happens upon the village in a remote part of iran..most of the film is in iranian and subtitled DO NOT BE PUT OFF. Zahra grabs her change to tell her story to this young man and takes on the might and fury of the village men to simply get her voice heard and the story of her neice soyara out there. 'as a woman my voice means nothing, so take my voice with you and tell the world' is simply one of the powerful quotes from the film. if you see injustice in the world then speak out about it no matter the consequences is the message i got from this film. the plight of women around the globe even today is shocking and hard hitting, its graffic and disturbing and its happening even today. and this film brings it to life right in front of you. you have to watch it its an amazing film of courage and strength and if you come away and do not cry your eyes out for the pure injustice then you have no heart at all...i cried a lot...the graffic nature of the film means that at the part of the stoning its very hard to watch but the pure strength of this woman is amazing even when her family are turned against her by the lies of her husband. its amazing, its strong, its very powerful. if you only watch one film this year...make it this one!- Was this review helpful to you?
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Can't stop crying because i know this is still happening nowadays
By 77JJ77 (1 review) , 13 May 2013worth watching but get ready for it, you will be shocked. I am giving it a five stars rate because I want everyone to watch it and know what is going on there to the poor women who has no support at all. May be someone can do anything to help them or to give them the support they needed.- Was this review helpful to you?
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Must See
By aasan (2 reviews) , 10 Apr 2013Having watched this film, I have opened my eyes to the unknown, the film makes you appreciate how privilege I am for the life I have as a women....Freedom....Excellent film- Was this review helpful to you?
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An extremely hard film to watch but worthwhile
By a customer , 06 Apr 2013This film isn't an easy watch by any means, even if you think you've prepared yourself for it. The feeling of anger at the despicably retarded patriarchal society that these unfortunate women have to endure is overwhelming. It's unbelievably sad. I'm just grateful that (even as a man) I do not have to live in that world. I hope this story reaches as many people as it should in order to catalyse some change. Sadly I think this is unlikely.- Was this review helpful to you?
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This Barbaric Practice Continues Today
By a customer , 06 Apr 2013This film highlights the dangers of twisting religion to suit personal gain. I have read that some countries are reluctant to screen this film for fear of the repercussions which may follow. By not screening it, those countries are condoning this barbaric practice. I work with Muslim students who are shocked when I tell them that I have no religion. When I am asked why I do not follow a religion, I tell them that I believe that religions are used, by instilling fear, to control, manipulate and suppress people, especially women, by unscrupulous people who are in more powerful positions. People who 'believe' should not judge others, if they truly believe, then who are they to cast judgement? By judging and condemning, surely they are putting themselves on a par with their 'Almighty' It's time for people to love, respect and care for each other and stop committing these heinous crimes in the name of God.- Was this review helpful to you?
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