THE STONING OF SORAYA M.

US, 2008, 114 minutes. Colour.
Shohreh Aghdashloo, Mozhan Marno, James Caviezel, Navid Negahban.
Directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh.

The Stoning of Soraya M. is based on a book by a journalist who was revisiting Iran from France in 1986 and came across the story of a woman in an arranged marriage, suffering for twenty years, being stoned to death after being accused of adultery with a local widower. The situation was contrived by her husband who wanted to marry another woman, gain the money from the dowry and put aside his original wife. There is a conspiracy in the town, he having a hold over the mullah who had been persecuting people in the time of the shah. They persuade the mayor to hold a trial and condemn the woman. Evidence is manipulated, witnesses are threatened, even her father disowns Soraya and her two sons throw stones at her in her execution.

James Caviezel plays the journalist who listens to the story told him by the dead woman’s aunt. She is played by Shohreh Aghdashloo, a veteran of many American films including House of Sand and Fog.

The presentation of the village as very powerful, especially the manipulations of the mullah, the righteousness of the mayor. The sequence of the stoning is particularly harrowing. The film is a strong plea for the rights of women under Sharia law where they seem to have very few rights at all, dominated by a patriarchy in the name of God. The opening caption has a quotation from a 14th century Iranian poet: “Don’t act like the hypocrite who thinks he can conceal his wiles while loudly quoting the Koran”.

1. Audience interest in Iran? In Sharia law? Its restrictions, especially for women?

2. The journalist’s story, the framework of the film, his driving through Iran, 1986, his breakdown, getting a lift, repairing his vehicle? The welcome of the mayor and the mullah? His listening to the story of Zahra? His taping it? The repairman and the car repaired? The mayor and the mullah and their threats, the military pulling the guns, emptying his bag, destroying the tapes? The irony of Zahra having the authentic tape, his getting away from the guns, publishing the story?

3. Zahra and her place in the village, Soraya as her niece? Her concerns, interventions? The mayor, the mullah? Her background with the mayor – almost marrying him? Wanting to protect her niece, knowing the truth about Ali? Taking her daughters? The clashes, the town’s rejection of her? Her inability to save Soraya? Telling the story?

4. The situation, Ali and Soraya married for twenty years, their children? The arranged marriage, his brutality, the sexual difficulties? His finding the young girl, her father, the money? The discussion with the mullah, putting pressure on him, knowing his past under the shah? His physical and verbal attacks on Soraya? Urging her to care for the widower? Fabricating the story, his aggression? The clashes with Zahra? The build-up to the execution, rousing the people, despising Soraya, showing no mercy, urging his boys to throw stones?

5. The aftermath, his driving back after the execution, the girl’s father dead, the collapse of the marriage – the irony of his situation?

6. Soraya and her life, the years, the abuse, the children, helping the widower, the men urging her to do this charity, the interpretations, the visualising of her smiling, whispering? Zahra and her advice? People not believing her, the attack, her being taken, Zahra protecting the daughters, the hatred of the people, of her father, digging the hole, tied? Her being stoned, the pain, the blood? Her final opening her eye to look at Ali? His vicious reaction? Her death, taking the body away, the dogs, the grave?

7. The mullah and his past, persecuting and the visuals of this, his double standards, his plotting with Ali, the pressure on the mayor, the pressure on the widower, the threats to him and his son? His religious stances, leadership? His cruelty, the stoning? The confrontation with the journalist?

8. The mayor and his sternness, believing the accusations? The pressure on him, the relentless hostility towards Soraya, his judgment?

9. The children, the daughters and their grief? The boys, standing by, urged to throw the stones, their doing it?

10. The widower, his situation, a poor man, the repairman, his wife’s death, the kindness of Soraya, with his son? The truth, the pressure, his lying, the end and his taking his son away?

11. The women, passing on the gossip as they worked?

12. The men and patriarchal society, Sharia law?

13. Themes of religion, God, the law, righteousness?