The Stoning of Soraya M

Cyrus Nowrasteh


Cyrus Nowrasteh’s film, “The Stoning of Soraya M,” is the story of the stoning of an innocent woman because her husband of twenty years wanted to have another wife, a child bride 14 years old.

Judging from the name of the film I would have turned away, and said, I know things are bad for women in the world where religious fundamentalism is the rule of the land. But something made me take the leap of faith and watch as Soraya M. is killed, murdered by the people she grew up with; her friends, her family, her neighbors. and her own children.

The landscape consisted of a barren view of a primitive town, all authentic. built on dirt and stones. Stones everywhere, all sizes, shapes, gathered by male children for use in the bloody execution.

Soraya M's her father was forced to join with the rule of the town's people, her father asked to throw the first stone. With stone like stoic expressions, her children were also told to throw the second, the third stone. Later they brought down in tears.

The lone voice of her Aunt as she tried to defy the powers of the town's governing body and failed was heard throughout the film. Her effort applauded, her failure to save her neice a sorriful but predictable outcome

Whenthe film ended, the tears were pouring uncontrollably from my eyes. My identification with Soraya more than I had expected.

Maybe we don't stone women to death in this country but we don't embrace the woman who tries to leave her husband, her marriage, when he doesn't agree to her demand for change.

This is an important film, a film to force us to re-evaluate from whence we came and how far we have or have not come in all these many years.

Linda Z
WBAI Women's Collective