Review of The Stoning of Soraya M. (2009) by Jonathan A — 28 Oct 2010

2: The entire time I couldn't help but feel I'd rather be watching an Iranian film, but an Iranian film would never be made on a topic like this of course. It certainly isn't Kiarostami or Iran, even if it is a fairly passable recreation (based on my relatively limited experience seeing the real Iran on film).

The performances are solid, the story reasonably well constructed, and the stoning scene quite powerful. It is certainly an odd sensation to be both looking forward to this disgusting event and dreading it.

I have to think this would be a horrible way to die. The film acts as a simple reminder that awful things happen in the world on a daily basis. We live in a sheltered society that, for the most part, doesn't have to deal with events like this.

The film certainly has its flaws though. The ending is a bit melodramatic and ridiculously neat. The journalist is searched, the woman runs out in the road brandishing the tape like a sword, the car won't start, and finally he speeds off into the sunset and we get the obligatory the world is an awful place message.

A simpler and more straightforward approach would have served the topic much better. The story would have compelling enough without the theatrics. It actually ends up taking itself too seriously and not seriously enough, depending on the particular section.