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The stoning of Soraya M. movie review, 3 stars
01-Jul-2010
I watched The stoning of Soraya M., alone and on streaming video online because no one wanted to watch it with me, too queasy. It is certainly worth watching because it is about an unjust and barbaric law of the land which we’re trying to abolish and told by one of Iran’s best actors, Shohreh Aghdashloo, it certainly would’ve had a better chance of reaching larger audiences around the world.
Other than Aghdashloo another very good and talented Iranian actor/legend is Parviz Sayyad who also played very well in his role. In fact come to think of it only these 2 played and dressed right for their parts. The remaining casts were out of place and over dressed and nothing like you’d expect in a small village in a remote part of Iran.
I decided to watch this movie and now to write this review after reading an article earlier this year about the comments someone tied to this movie, not sure if it was the director or producer or someone else, critical that the movie didn’t get any attention at Oscars.
I think the subject matter is a worthy subject which could get enough recognition if enough attention to detail is used and a good screen play written. Given this was based on a true story the general script was already there and it was up to the director to have used his/her artistic license to create a movie which could be watched by larger audiences.
In my opinion to achieve this goal, reaching a large audience, one should not focus 2/3 of the movie on the stoning scene itself and expect the audience to have either nerves of steel or to think this is movies so don’t worry about it.
There is so much to be told about the law of stoning and how it became about in Iran. For example, early in the revolution many zealots jumped the gun to draw first blood and announce that the Islamic ‘justice’ has arrived and stoning someone was the proof. Or what are the ‘requirements’ for stoning and how it should be carried out.
In this movie these nuances were all over the place. The woman was stoned not because she slept with anyone but because she took a nap by herself in a strange man’s house while she worked there as a maid! Ok fine that goes to show how they killed her and what a huge injustice was done, but shouldn’t there be a discussion that they’re not allowed to stone anyone for taking a nap? Shouldn’t this at least be said somewhere?
When they made the movie Selena they were dealing with a tragedy and had they focused on the tragedy itself they’d not have reached the audiences they reached. Selena is one of the most widely watched movies and particularly in most, if not all, Spanish homes there is either a copy of the movie or somehow the girls have watched it over and over again. The tragic part is at the end and a very small part.
You can neither expect the Saw crowd to see this movie and “enjoy” it nor can you play to people’s emotions and expect Oscar nominations just for the sake of the subject matter. When they make all these Holocaust movies, one won the Oscar for best picture in Life is Beautiful, they focus on a life that is parallel to this tragedy not the tragedy itself which is known to everyone. The last scene of the stoning scene with blood and stones around would have been enough.
This movie didn’t even pay attention to how the cast members looked. They seemed out of place with outfits which seemed to have been designed by the likes of Armani or Versachi for an urban setting not the rural Iran. Some were also clean shaven and well groomed. It looked like they tried to use the outfit used by the girl in The Ring to dress the victim which by the way she was supposed to have been draped in white not dressed in white. Now if this wasn’t the case and the villagers were eager to see her die and bleed in front of them, again there could’ve been a discussion about whether she should be dressed this way.
Or when towards the end the journalist who is supposed to take the cassette tape out of Iran, is surrounded by machine gun wielding revolutionary guards, suddenly escapes in his LADA (YOGU’s step-father :-) and the only thing between him, his LADA and 2 machine guns are Aghdashloo’s chador (veil). Yeah right these guys went to great length to steal all the journalist’s belonging and were shy or timid on going after him for the main cassette that they were looking for in the first place! Although I give them credit for casting LADA in the first place. There were few Ladas roaming around in those days!
The best line of the movie was when the victim was to say her last words and she said شماها چتون شده which loosely translates to what the hell have gotten into you? And she went on to say more about she is a daughter, mother, sister and a wife …
I really wished a movie about stoning in Iran would reach large audiences and garner a lot more controversial comments than the movie 300. Recent history has shown that Iranian people are mostly for banning this practice and even officials have tried to put a lid on it or make it harder for local Mullahs to issue this sentence.
When I heard this movie was coming out and Aghdashloo was playing in it I was impressed and hoping for good reviews and larger audience. It is something when people are looking for Oscar nods or recognition when there wasn’t even a good enough reception from the public, $665,647 at the US box office. I understand it won several International awards.
In the end Aghdashloo and Parviz Sayyad played superbly and I’d give them 5 stars, the Soraya character (Mozhan Marnò) played well too. Adapted screen play 2 stars, costumes 2 stars, picture 3 stars and overall 3 stars. Especially 3 stars for us Iranians to watch this movie when you get a chance and a stomach for it. It is in Farsi with English subtitles.
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The point, you should be able to "cry" but not urged to "puke".
by Anonymouse on Mon Jul 05, 2010 03:24 PM PDTEverything is sacred
i almost puked when i
by Mahrokh on Mon Jul 05, 2010 02:25 PM PDTi almost puked when i watched it but then again , it was the same producer from The Passion of the Christ. so go figure. I give the movie 4 out of 5 stars.
I meant to say I "shouldn't" have to watch it alone. sorry
by Anonymouse on Sat Jul 03, 2010 04:12 PM PDTEverything is sacred
I didn't have to watch it alone
by Anonymouse on Sat Jul 03, 2010 08:21 AM PDTI wanted the movie to be the kind where after seeing it people would say the stoning part was a small part and the movie had a lot more to say and was beautifully written and told and played by very good actors.
Making a movie about stoning is not like making a movie and insult the prophet mohammad. As I said millions upon millions of Iranians and many officials are against this practice. So if a chalghooz ayatollah somewhere in Iran would issue a fatwa against the director it'd not mean anything, because that Ayatollah is probably just a mullah whom no one would cut onion leave for anyway.
My comment on that article about the director saying people face death penalty for watching that movie was targeted at the director himself who seems to be so full of himself. Seems like he was once again "puzzled" about why no fatwas were issued.
Well, there are more stories to say and hopefully the next movie about stoning can learn a thing or two from this movie.
Everything is sacred
Anonymouse,you worked hard
by Escape on Sat Jul 03, 2010 07:32 AM PDTAnonymouse,you worked hard on this writeup thanks.It's a hard industry,People like Bruckheimer made 100's of movies before real worldwide success.So If it's any consolation,any movie that is known worldwide is a success.
The Story of a Stoning already face's a great obstacle just because it's real and it's sickening..What's crucial to the Biz is,You said yourself,you had to watch it alone and I would guess that your society is very knowledgable of Iran..In the West most people know nothing about Iran really,You know more about Iran even than the author's of that link.So it is nice to know what you think of that article.
Article also said watching the movie in Iran means death. NOT!
by Anonymouse on Fri Jul 02, 2010 03:10 PM PDTThe same people who deliver normal DVDs carry this movie too. My cousin watched it and told us about it.
Everything is sacred
Oh and how many movies have been made about stoning in Iran?
by Anonymouse on Fri Jul 02, 2010 02:50 PM PDTEverything is sacred
Thanks for the link. The director was "puzzled"!
by Anonymouse on Fri Jul 02, 2010 02:47 PM PDTHe shouldn't be "puzzled" anymore. It is still better to have made this movie. Better than nothing, a lot better than nothing. I just wished it was made with more attention and care.
Everything is sacred
Stoned in Iran, Snubbed in Hollywood article
by Escape on Fri Jul 02, 2010 02:42 PM PDT//www.cultureandmedia.com/articles/2010/20100323153959.aspx
Thx Niki jaan! You & DK's seal of approval are all that matters!
by Anonymouse on Fri Jul 02, 2010 10:05 AM PDTIt's worth watching. Aghdashloo and Sayyad playing together was reminiscene of the old Samad and Okhtapus shows. Although you may be too young to know about it but watching this movie and see them play together, I think you'll appreciate them more.
I think the mudslinging is because some don't want to associate Iran with stoning, turn a blind eye on it or simply ignore it. As if by keeping quiet this crime is any less shameless. If anything the stoning in Iran should be talked about more and more, not less, until it is abolished.
Everything is sacred
Good review
by Niki Tehranchi on Fri Jul 02, 2010 09:58 AM PDTI have not seen it yet because as you mention, the subject matter is so traumatic, but I hope to muster the wherewithal to do so. I appreciate your review, which discusses both the strong and weak points of this film, without descending into mudslinging like I have seen some commenters do about this film.
You can't stop people from being arses but you can punish them
by Anonymouse on Fri Jul 02, 2010 07:41 AM PDTI see what you mean by fanatics in Europe (and US) who do crazy things in the name of religion. In US last year an Egyptian "father" killed both his daughters while they were on the phone asking help from 911. He killed them because one of them was asked by a boy on a date. He then escaped to middle east and is now on the run and I hope he ruts.
Or in the state of Utah there were polygamists marrying 13 or 14 year old girls to old men.
It's not just the sharia law, there are crazy people doing all sort of crazy things but the law is not behind them and in fact will punish them severely. That's all we can ask for, laws that punish the crimes. The crime is stoning not adultry.
Everything is sacred
Dear friend
by Fatollah on Fri Jul 02, 2010 07:23 AM PDTperhaps I didn't formulate myself correctly, as I am not good in English. Obviously, you don't live in Europe, and don't see how many muslims with fonds from certain countries in the ME with a clear agenda, in uk and else where in Europe are lobbying for Sharia counsels. This is what I was refereing to. That's all.
And sharia must be banned in Iran, it's barbaric.
by the way, thanks for the review.
-Fatollah
Sharia law in Europe? you mean Turkey?
by Anonymouse on Fri Jul 02, 2010 06:20 AM PDTOne of the achievements of Islamic Republic is that once and for all this system of governance is now fully implemented and with Afghanistan going one step further with Taliban they're destined to failure.
There will be a day when Islamic Republic will fold just like those before it. No amount of smack talk from Ahmadi or those who'll follow him is going to save them from their future.
As for this movie, I'm recommending it but it is a shame that such a good book and story was poorly told. It is as if the director expects his viewers to read his mind. Rushed through the whole thing.
Perhaps there can be a movie made about a woman who actually sleeps with a man. When you're living in Iran, and are a woman, this punishment is ever looming and present which is in and of itself a story all its own.
Everything is sacred
not seen yet the movie ...
by Fatollah on Fri Jul 02, 2010 06:03 AM PDTbut, understand what Sharia laws are all about, hope it's to be abolished everywhere, most importantly never give rise or stop Sharia laws in getting a foothold in none Islamic countries, i.e Europe or else where ...
Thank you for reading and commenting
by Anonymouse on Fri Jul 02, 2010 04:57 AM PDTBavafa, 1 star is bad enough, 0 star is a razzy and from 0 to -∞ are all the same!
RW jaan thanks for the compliment and you have a good weekend too!
DK jaan your seal of approval on a movie review is all that matters! Thanks and you have a good weekend too!
Everything is sacred
Anonymouse Jaan Good Review
by Darius Kadivar on Fri Jul 02, 2010 01:34 AM PDTThanks for sharing your fair assessment on this film.
Have a nice weekend.
D
Anonymouse Aziz
by Red Wine on Thu Jul 01, 2010 04:52 PM PDTThank you so much for this useful review,I enjoyed to read it.Have a nice weekend :=) .
What are the range in rating we can give? 1-5?
by Bavafa on Thu Jul 01, 2010 12:31 PM PDTThen I go for -3
I watched it with much enthusiasm but was so disappointed. What a great story to be told and they got it wrong by so much.
Aghdashloo as a staunch defender of her niece could not walk her to her death hole fast enough once the vertict was announced/reached. It seemed as if the director had realized that they are reaching the end of two hours and running out of film, so decided to bring it to an end quickly.
Mehrdad