Have you ever seen a film that immediately had you mesmerised? That was my experience with The Stoning of Soraya M., an incredible true story of an innocent woman’s persecution in Iran.
Adapted from the bestselling book of the same name by French-Iranian journalist Freidoune Sahebjam, director Cyrus Nowrasteh (The Day Reagan Was Shot) has crafted a near-flawless film that sheds light on a very serious issue of injustice that is still occurring in the world today.
Events take place in a remote Iranian village during the year of 1986. A woman, Zahra (Shohreh Aghdashloo), makes her way quickly and quietly through the village, fearing for her life. She chances upon a stranded journalist Freidoune Sahebjam (Jim Caviezel), whose car broke down on his journey to the Iranian border. Zahra seizes the opportunity to tell the world the story of her ill-fated niece, Soraya M. (Mozhan Marnò in a career making performance), who was wrongfully accused of adultery and subsequently executed.
With this foreboding knowledge, the clock is turned back to the day before Soraya’s death, where we learn that her husband Ali (Navid Negahban) has fallen in love with a young virgin who he plans to make his new wife. Not wanting to support two families or return Soraya’s dowry, Ali plants seeds of doubt in the village about his wife’s fidelity, and before she has a chance to defend herself, this innocent woman finds herself a prisoner in her community, shunned and fighting for her life.
Cyrus Nowrasteh opens his film with a quote from 14th Century Iranian poet Hafez: “Don’t act like the hypocrite, who thinks he can conceal his wiles while loudly quoting the Koran” . It is an apt choice for such a film that questions the humanity and justice system of a village where evil seems to triumph over good. Nowrasteh is never one to shy away from controversy — his previous films have focused on everything from the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan to 9/11 — and he handles Soraya’s story with real delicacy and truthfulness, particularly during the climatic stoning scene. While it is brutally graphic and left me feeling physically ill, it’s fittingly depicted and immensely powerful. In this scene particularly, the original score by composer John Debney is hauntingly beautiful.
What elevates the film from simply being another political propaganda film are the performances. Chiefly compiled of Middle Eastern actors, the entire cast is very impressive, each crafting fully realised characters that do justice to this complex story. In her leading role as the heroic Zahra, Oscar nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo (House of Sand and Fog) showcases her immense talent and ability to be a leading lady. Every word she speaks is said with such ferocity and passion, and it is through her actions that we are allowed to have a sense of hope in the final thrilling moments of the film. As for the males, Jim Caviezel is well cast as the journalist who stumbles across the story and is subsequently entrusted to tell the world about it. As Soraya’s malevolent husband Ali, Navid Negahban (Brothers) makes for a hellishly evil antagonist. With his manipulative nature and the fact the he knowingly condemned the mother of his children to her death, I found myself despising Ali with every bone in my body.
However, the heart of the film resides with Iranian-American actress Mozhan Marnò (Charlie Wilson’s War) who, in the title role of the doomed Soraya, is simply phenomenal. No other words can describe this performance that somehow manages to be both heartbreaking and gut retching, yet at the same time also empowering and inspiring. Even as she is wrongfully accused of a crime that she did not commit, and as her entire village turns against her, Marnò’s exceptional grace and poise never wavers as she dutifully goes along with the role her village has confined her to. However, as the first of many stones are hurtled at her, this inspiring composure eventually breaks, and she lets out one long and tragic cry. In this single cry, Marnò’s is able to convey every emotion that Soraya has thus far somehow managed to suppress: rage, anguish, despair, hatred and of course sadness. This scene will remain in your mind and haunt you long after you leave the cinema.
Verdict:
I simply cannot say it enough; this is an incredible film. It’s an inexplicable travesty that both Shohreh Aghdashloo and Mozhan Marnò failed to receive Oscar nominations for their performances. So do your selves a favour and go see this film; your view of the world will be changed.
