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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.

Stoning of Soraya M., The

EMAILPRINTRoadside Attractions, MPower Pictures

Stoning of Soraya M., The reviews
50
9.5 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 20 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 52 votes
Read user comments
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Crime  |  Drama

Written by: Cyrus Nowrasteh
Betsy Giffen Nowrasteh

Directed by: Cyrus Nowrasteh

Release Date:
Theatrical: June 26, 2009

Running Time: 116 minutes, Color

Origin: USA

Language(s): Persian | English

Summary

RATING: R for a disturbing sequence of cruel and brutal violence, and brief strong language

Starring Shohreh Aghdashloo, Jim Caviezel, Mozhan Marno, Ali Pourtash, Navid Negahban, David Diaan, and Parviz Sayyad

Academy Award nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo and 'The Passion of the Christ' star Jim Caviezel star in this vital and enlightening story of one woman's persecution at the hands of religious extremists. Based on a powerful true story, the film has been hailed by audiences and critics worldwide including at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival. (Roadside Attractions)

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

90

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

The Stoning of Soraya M. goes well beyond its angry didacticism and its specific indictment of men's oppression of women to achieve the impact of a Greek tragedy through its masterful grasp of suspense and group psychology, and some superb acting.

Read Full Review >
80

The Hollywood Reporter Peter Brunette

It's a powerful, shocking piece, and the denunciation of a system in which an accused woman has to prove her own innocence (while in the case of a man, his guilt has to be proven by others), is strong and clear and unforgettable.

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75

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

The Stoning of Soraya M.”has such a powerful stoning sequence that I recommend it if only for its brutal ideological message. That the pitiful death of Soraya is followed by a false Hollywood upbeat ending involving tape recordings and silliness about a car that won't start is simply shameful. Nowrasteh, born in Colorado, attended the USC Film School. Is that what they teach there?

Read Full Review >
75

San Francisco Chronicle Amy Biancolli

The sum is difficult to watch. But this isn't a film against Islam or religion in general: A clear distinction is made between Allah's more vicious followers and the mercy of Allah himself.

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75

USA Today Claudia Puig

A timely story, given the political upheaval in Iran, it is emotionally explosive. It also is profoundly compelling.

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75

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

The Stoning of Soraya M.'s drawn-out torture sequence is harrowing and lurid.

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70

Chicago Reader Cliff Doerksen

Based on a French true-crime best seller, this gory, ham-fisted hybrid of social-issue picture and horror film exerts a crude but undeniable power.

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63

St. Louis Post-Dispatch Joe Williams

This broadside against sharia law lacks the finesse of an import, but it's effectively melodramatic.

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60

Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

The last thing I want to do is represent The Stoning of Soraya M. as entertainment, summer or otherwise. This is classic tragedy in semimodern dress that means to horrify, and does so more successfully than any film in recent memory.

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60

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

As with so many message movies, this one trades ­nuance for naked outrage. The filmmakers'heartfelt intent is admirable, but right now they’re competing with a more compellingly told reality.

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50

Miami Herald Rene Rodriguez

A slow, inexorable slog to the titular event -- a public execution so inconceivably violent and brutal the movie practically dares you not to look away.

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50

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Stephen Cole

Though The Stoning of Soraya M.'s heart is in the right place, its head is lost in storm clouds of anger.

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50

Portland Oregonian Marc Mohan

The film oddly mirrors "The Passion of the Christ," as a show trial leads inexorably toward an almost sadistically filmed public execution (it doesn't hurt that Jim Caviezel plays the reporter). Like that movie, it gets its point across with all the subtlety, sorry to say, of a rock upside the head.

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50

New York Post V.A. Musetto

It also gives another black eye to Iranian fundamentalists. It is most unfortunate, then, that the film isn't better.

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50

Village Voice Vadim Rizov

This is basically self-congratulatory fare for people who feel more "politically conscious" when reminded that women in the Islamic world can have it rough. Right now, you're better off just watching the news.

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50

Boston Globe Wesley Morris

Director Nowrasteh seems to think the only way to save lives is to sensationalize death. You could trek to the theater and have this movie whack you upside the head. You could also just mail a check for $10 to the human rights group of your choice.

Read Full Review >
40

The New York Times Stephen Holden

Thoroughly blurs the line between high-minded outrage and lurid torture-porn.

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33

The Onion (A.V. Club) Scott Tobias

Nowrasteh constantly overplays his hand, not realizing that some horrors speak for themselves.

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30

Washington Post Jan Stuart

Iranian American director Cyrus Nowrasteh, co-writing with wife Betsy Giffen Nowrasteh, has amplified the basic elements of Suraya's story into the worst kind of exploitive Hollywood melodrama, presented under the virtuous guise of moral outrage.

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20

Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten

A classic case of preaching to the choir, since it’s doubtful the film will reach many of the minds that need changing.

Read Full Review >

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 9.5 (out of 10) based on 52 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Bennett T gave it a10:
Excellent, must see R-rated brutal film about injustice in Iran, something Iran itself will not discuss, and will not be mentioned on the evening news that is too fixated on Michael Jackson and other fluff pieces that get ratings but say very little of importance.

Francis L gave it a10:
Such a stridently powerful film. It brings to light and issue that must be exposed! I strongly support positive change in Iran and this movie will definitely serve as a catalyst to that cause. Furthermore the acting, the atmosphere and themes themselves all make for an immersing film that you'll have to see to truly understand. I highly recommend this film for activist and film-lover alike.

Cory G gave it a10:
A powerful and wonderfully adapted story; not once did the film feel fake or contrived in any way! Shohreh Aghdashloo is phenomenal and I really do believe she deserves and Oscar Nomination.

Macarena A. gave it a10:
If you want to see what is going on around the world and injustice that many people around the world are going through watch this movie!!!

Jeff J gave it a10:
Very powerful story and excellent acting.

Gerry F. gave it a10:
Definitely worth seeing. Critics - 5/10, Real People 10/10. The critics in the main stream media would rather trash this masterpiece as it exposes Real Evil, and glorify movies like An Inconvenient Trust which exposes nothing but Liberal fear mongering over EVIL, which can only exist in the mind of a Liberal. This movie deserves and Academy Award, but that will never happen.

Barrie W gave it a10:
Fantastic film ... a real eye-opener as to the plight of women in Iran. One wonders how much has changed since her stoning in 1986!

Read more user comments >

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