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Stoning of Soraya M., The
EMAILPRINTRoadside Attractions, MPower Pictures

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)
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database Official Studio Site
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...
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 >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.
Read Full Review >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 >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.
Read Full Review >USA Today Claudia Puig
A timely story, given the political upheaval in Iran, it is emotionally explosive. It also is profoundly compelling.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum
The Stoning of Soraya M.'s drawn-out torture sequence is harrowing and lurid.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >St. Louis Post-Dispatch Joe Williams
This broadside against sharia law lacks the finesse of an import, but it's effectively melodramatic.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >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 >The New York Times Stephen Holden
Thoroughly blurs the line between high-minded outrage and lurid torture-porn.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club) Scott Tobias
Nowrasteh constantly overplays his hand, not realizing that some horrors speak for themselves.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >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!
