| Back to Article | ||
GC Movie Review - The Stoning of Soraya M. |
||
| 2009-06-26 | ||
|
By Rhonda Ridley Production Companies: Mpower Pictures
When I tell you nothing could have prepared me for “The Stoning of Soraya M.” I mean NOTHING! This was the most compelling film I’ve seen since “The Passion of the Christ.” It was painful and agonizing to watch, but because it is a true story you can’t look away. As Christians; followers of Christ and messengers of the Good News, injustice of any kind should incite an emotion of righteous anger within all of us. This emotion will overtake you as you watch this film, especially since it still goes on today. Whether man, woman, boy or girl no one has the right to make people feel worthless, useless and purposeless.
This is the scenario that played out in this true story, adapted as a book and soon to be released as a film this coming Friday, June 26th. In 1986, French-Iranian investigative journalist Freidoune Sahebjam's (Jim Caviezel) car unexpectedly stalled as he went to Iran to report on a story. Always known for his controversial reporting, Sahebjam was sentenced to death by the Iranian government. However, he would return incognito to investigate sensitive issues regarding the Tehran Islamic Regime. This is where he was going when he found himself stranded in Kupayeh.
Reluctantly, but intrigued at the same time, Sahebjam turns on his tape recorder and Zahra begins the horrific last day of her niece’s life. Soraya, (Mozhan Marno) a 35 year old strikingly beautiful mother of four, lives in Kupayeh, a small village in Iran. Although dominated by men and their antiquated perspectives, she is liked in her village and seen as very respectful. Soraya is married to Ali, (Navid Negahban) a physically abusive husband who announces one day that he wants a divorce so he can marry a 14 year old girl. In his arrogance, he even tries to convince her to keep their two daughters while he takes their two sons, as if to lighten her burden. Not wanting to lose her husband, his income and divide her family Soraya disagrees, leaves for her aunt’s house with the girls and seeks her advice. Lustful after this young girl and filled with vengeance, Ali has to find a way not to pay for two wives. All the while Zahra is secretly visiting and seeking the help of Ebrahim, (David Diaan) the town mayor and a man from her past whose proposal for marriage she refused, but he’s still very much in love with her. Ebrahim is so torn between doing what he believes is traditionally correct; which means doing what the other men say or helping out the woman he loves. It’s often amazing how situations like this play out when you have a strong inkling of what not to do and the nagging pressure of being liked and accepted rules out. Right or wrong, the loudest voice wins. Islamic law requires two witnesses when bringing a case before the town court. Knowing that the mayor conflicted and too unreliable, Ali bribes the fake Mullah (Ali Pourtash) by threatening to denounce him as a fake and then he shamelessly attacks a recent widower, who Soraya works for, by threatening to put his mentally challenged son in a mental institution.
No matter how hard she and her aunt tried Soraya M. could not prove her innocence. A woman smiling at a man is questionable, standing too long in conversation is questionable and sitting on the job is even questionable. The accusations can be so minor. For example, if you work for a man and he’s not home and you decide to take a break, rest or nap, that can be seen as inappropriate and punishable. Soraya was accused of all of these. Although she did not do anything inappropriately, she could not deny doing them at all. As well, if her husband stressed it enough, and he did, they can be seen as adultery. When bringing Soraya before Ebrahim, his only retort was to quote Islamic law, which states that, "Women are guilty unless proven innocent and men are innocent unless proven guilty." In other words, as a woman, if you have no proof, you die. And by this time all of the men in the village were convinced that she was guilty and some of the women had begun already spreading rumors of their own. Soraya had no recourse. After careful deliberation, the verdict is in: Guilty. At this point is you begin to see people struggle to make the right choice, because their mob mentality is about to cost this woman her life, her family her children etc. As if to literally pour herself into her niece, Zahra begins to prepare her niece’s heart, mind and body for death. As she combs her hair, the two of them begin to sing this beautiful song. When speaking to the Director Cyrus Nowrasteh, he shared that that was an unrehearsed moment and it happens to be one of the most powerful scenes in the entire film – and he’s right. It is at that moment, as it become real for her, that what’s about to happen has also become real for us - the audience. One of the key lessons for everyone to learn in this film is that God has given us all choices. Without choices, people are enslaved. Simply, there’s freedom in having a choice. Here Soraya had no choice when it came to what the people in the village thought or did, but in the end her choice was humility and strength. It was remarkable to see her being led away to her death; she’s dressed in this pure white flowing dress, guarded by her aggressively protective aunt with a look of resolve on her face. She was ready. She had accepted her fate. Cyrus and Sahebjam spoke extensively about authenticity of language, people and look. Basking in the beauty of the mountains, the homes in the village and the look of these villagers, you can’t help but honor their lives. Amidst all of the injustice, there is such a strong sense of family and community. Here in the states, that’s missing in many homes. The sepia tones popped on screen, there were no magical camera shots, but that really didn’t matter. This film is about the story more than anything. Cyrus found a village in the mountains primarily mad of rocks yet overlooking an incredible valley that paid authentic tribute to Iran, both culturally and environmentally; you feel their truth. There was a gripping moment when Zahra asks Soraya, “Are you afraid?” and she responds, “Not of dying, but of the pain.” In a very weird way, her honesty not only breaks your heart but her courage also makes you proud. Her situation was not just because she was innocent, but parallel to our wonderful Savior; she did not seek retribution or spew vicious words when they gave her an opportunity to speak to her accuser. Instead Soraya M. accepted the inevitable and allowed God’s Will to be done – just like Jesus. The most horrifying moment in this film is when Soraya is placed in the hole and the crowd gathers around her preparing her end. The stoning of Soraya M. is a gripping, compelling and necessary story about lies, false religions, oppression, murder, human rights, decency, lust, pride and ego. If you walk out of this film unchanged, your integrity as a human being must be questioned. It not only leaves you stunned, angry, and with a feeling of helplessness, but it also asks the question: When was the last time you witnessed an injustice and refused to speak up and act? Let you voice be heard. This film is an absolute must see! The graphic stoning is not fit for youngsters. |
||
Synopsis: Director Cyrus Nowrasteh teams with screenwriter and wife Betsy Giffen Nowrasteh to illuminate the dangers of religious fundamentalism, gender apartheid, and mob rule with this fictionalized adaptation of Freidoune Sahebjam's best-selling novel centering on a true-life tragedy. The story takes place in 1986, just as Khomeini is coming into power in Iran. Undercover French journalist Freidoune Sahebjam (Jim Caviezel) is traveling though a small southwestern village when his car breaks down. 
In certain Middle Eastern countries this is exactly how women are treated. Women are seen as dispensable; replaceable at her husband’s choosing. However if she disagrees, he must then buy her out.
Similar to the Old Testament of the Bible, the husband could obtain a letter of divorcement and divorce his wife for any cause. Let’s remember, this was not Gods law – God hates divorce! This was a law Moses passed because people were constantly defiling the Covenant of Marriage and coming to him for divorces. 
Upon overhearing that the stranded stranger is a reporter, Zahra, (Shohreh Agdashloo) an older Iranian woman accosted him and says that she needs to speak with him. She shares with him that she has a story to tell and he needs to expose it to the world. Meanwhile, the men in the village had already told him not to listen to her because she’s crazy. She says to him, “Women here have no voice; I need you to take my voice with you. Let me tell you this story and then you tell me if I’m crazy.” 
Now, Ali begins to spread a rumor that his wife has been unfaithful with the widower. In Iran infidelity is punishable by death - stoning. Than this begs to question; if men can be married and sleep with prostitutes and the whole town approves, then wouldn’t women be the only ones getting stoned for adultery? This double standard is just one of the many injustices being exposed in this film.