The Stoning of Soraya M

The Stoning of Soraya M is one of the most upsetting, horrific films I have ever seen; made even more powerful as it is true.

Soraya was the victim of religion, men and her position as a woman in Iran with no rights. She was murdered after a false accusation was made against her of adultery; an accusation instigated by her husband so that he could marry a 14 year old girl instead. The day after her death, a French Journalist happened to stop in the village as his car had broken down. Soraya’s Aunt risked her own safety by telling him the story and he then arranged for the film to be made.

The landscape around the village is beautiful; mountains, rivers, and sunny weather. This brings the horrific scenes in the film sharply into context through the powerful juxtaposition.

The actor playing Soraya (Mozhan Marno) was brilliant; she really showed the true desperation and anguish of the film. It is a violent film to watch; the stoning scene is brutal and bloody- as one would expect. Other scenes are also difficult to watch but the film demands your attention.

Adultery is punishable by stoning in Iran; but oddly only for adulterous women and not for men (otherwise Soraya’s husband would have suffered the same fate as he regularly used prostitutes and associated with other women). Some aspects of the film made me angry; that a woman accused of adultery must prove her innocence whereas if a woman accuses a man then she must prove his guilt.

If we did not know that women are stoned to death in some countries around the world and that a woman’s life is worth nothing then the film would almost be unbelievable with its levels of corruption, violence and abuse. The film highlighted for me that although in this country, I have the same rights as a man (in most aspects); in another it could easily have been me that was stoned to death. As women, we do not have equality until all of our sisters around the world have it and we should continue to campaign for them. It is an important story and I urge anyone to watch the film: Soraya should never be forgotten.

Jane Shields (DI Reviewer), 20/07/11

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