Let Out the Truth!
A review of
THE STONING OF SORAYA M.
The Stoning of Soraya M. (2008) is set in the remote Iranian village of Kuhpayeh and is the story of a 35-year-old woman who is stoned to death due to her abusive husband’s false accusations of adultery. The film is directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh and stars Academy-Award Nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo as Soraya’s aunt who witnesses the events and swears to let out the truth to the whole world.
This is an American-Persian drama film adapted from French Journalist Freidoune Sahebjam's book La Femme Lapidée; it is a true story.
The performances in this film are great, especially that of Aghdashloo, who gives a heartfelt and truly touching performance; in a land where women’s voices don’t matter, her character witnesses the brutality of the events and stands against all odds to set her soul and Soraya’s free by letting
the whole world know the truth. Mozhan Marnò, the actress who plays Soraya, is no less outstanding, giving an unforgettable performance that is truly haunting.
The best part about this film is its screenplay; the way that the movie flows naturally at a runtime of 114 minutes is truly impressive. Yet, the characters are also an aspect that truly stands