Review of The Stoning of Soraya M. (2009) by Ana B — 03 Sep 2011

Very harsh drama, set in Iran and based in true facts. It tells us of Soraya, an unhappy wife and mother of 4 kids, trying to deal with the attempts of divorce of his cheating and abusive husband. Soraya rejects those offers because they would leave her very vulnerable economically. Enraged, the husband makes out a story of infidelity and bullies the witnesses to rise false allegations while making preparations to get married to a teenage girl. With the help of the iman and the collusion of the major, the lie goes ahead. Unbelievably, everybody knows what's going on but nobody moves a finger to stop it. And so, Soraya is stoned to death in the main square of the village with the complacency of all the villagers -at least the male ones- and with the approval of Islam.

This is not a movie for the faint hearted, it is extremely harsh and graphic, very crude, I confess that I fast forwarded the bit of the stoning, just couldn't cope with the cruelty, the blood, the despicable miscarriage of justice and the complete disregard for human rights. It is amazing that this animalistic practice could happen in the middle ages but it is bizarre that is still going on today. It is a good movie but it is extremely difficult to watch maybe because the reality of it. I could have stoped the film but I forced myself to see right to the end of it because these revolting acts have to be reported, known and discussed. Maybe this way countries like Iran will feel the need to improve- or create- women's rights and the stonings will stop. Let's hope so.