Review of The Stoning of Soraya M. (2009) by Alvin V — 28 May 2010

The critical controversy around this film seems to centre around its "lack of subtlety". Gee, sorry guys if Nowrasteh's detailed and lengthy portrayal of the stoning in question seems distasteful to you - but imagine how the victims feel? I'm uneasy about any demonisation of Islamic societies in this day and age - but the fact is that the rigid application of Sharia Law is commonly exploited by its beneficiaries, and women are the main victims (but by no means the only ones).

I think audiences are distanced by the seeming caricature of this story's villains. Unfortunately, there's a lot of horrible people doing exactly this kind of thing every day. Comfy and secure in our first world existences, it can seem hard to believe that the scenario of The Stoning of Soraya M is all too believable to those without the same human rights we enjoy. This is not a story about an exceptional incident in Iran - it's a typical example of a dysfunctional social event that is really quite commonplace. And that is precisely why this film has been made. The News sanitises it. Film is the only medium that can accurately convey the horror of what is being allowed to happen.