Female Rebels With A Cause Revealed in "The Stoning"

Published June 17, 2009 @ 08:47PM PT

After a tip from a fan on the Women's Rights Page on Facebook brought me to view the film, The Stoning of Soraya M, I knew I had to share this compelling film with the greater Change.org audience.

The film is adapted from French-Iranian journalist Freidoune Sahebjam's 1994 novel of the same name. The film is directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh and stars Academy Award nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo, as well as James Caviezel and Mozhan Marnò. Stoning had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it was the runner-up for the Audience Choice Award. and was the second runner-up for the Cadillac People's Choice Award.

The reviews are already spreading like wildfire about the incredible message of the film, particularly during this time of hostility in Iran. Take a look at what Chip Hanlon has to say on Huffington Post -

The Stoning of Soraya M: A Brave New Film on Women's Rights in Iran

I'm quite certain I have just seen another such movie, an extraordinary film titled The Stoning of Soraya M. It is simply one of the most gripping films I've ever watched but. Certainly, it is a story that needs to be told since the barbaric practice of stoning still occurs in our world today -- mostly to women, and mostly in the Middle East.

Knowing this was a true story from 1980's-era Iran based on an international best-seller by the late French journalist, Freidoune Sahebjam, I expected a somewhat partisan, right-leaning film, one at least serving as an overt condemnation of Sharia law, perhaps even strongly enough to be viewed as an affront to Islam itself.

Instead, no such partisan message was apparent in Soraya, which opens June 26th. In fact, the movie -- in which, of course, the defining outcome is known in advance -- was a surprisingly convincing tale of heroism, on both the part of the journalist, Sahebjam, but especially on the part of Soraya's brave aunt, Zahra.

You can view the trailer here:

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Comments (1)

I just saw a screening of this last night and it's very well-done and very powerful. Bring your tissues and leave your young kids at home though, it get's pretty graphic.

Posted by Amanda Kloer on 06/18/2009 @ 05:36AM PT
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Author

Jen Nedeau is a social media consultant, progressive activist, feminist speaker and writer. She currently lives in New York City, where she works full-time as the Director of Digital Strategy at Air America Media. In August 2008, Nedeau was selected to be the Editor of the WomensRights.Change.Org where she facilitates daily discussion about the feminist movement. Additionally, Nedeau volunteers as the Chief Technology Officer for New Leaders Council, a non-profit that offers exclusive training for young leaders. You can follow her on Twitter @HumanFolly or learn more here: www.jennedeau.com.