Film Description
The Stoning of Soraya M.
Director: Cyrus Nowrasteh
Cast: James Caviezel, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Navid Negahban, Parviz Sayyad
Crime/Drama, 14A not recommended for sensitive or young viewers due to the mature subject matter and graphic imagery, 116 minutes
(USA)
" The magnificent performance by Aghdashloo is worth the price of admission."
- Keith Cohen, ENTERTAINMENT SPECTRUM
"A powerful, riveting and important film sure to become one of the year's most controversial."
- Pete Hammond - BACK STAGE
Synopsis: In a world of secrecy, corruption and injustice, a single courageous voice can tell a true story that changes everything. This is what lies at the heart of the emotionally charged experience of THE STONING OF SORAYA M. Based on an incredible true story, this powerful tale of a village’s persecution of an innocent woman becomes both a daring act of witness and a compelling parable about mob rule. Who will join forces with the plot against her, who will surrender to the mob, and who will dare to stand up for what is right. It is both a classic fable of good and evil and an inspiring tribute to the many fighting against injustice all around the world, THE STONING OF SORAYA M. was a rousing runner-up to “Slumdog Millionaire” as the Audience Favorite at the Toronto Film Festival. Academy Award® nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo (“House of Sand and Fog”) stars in the heroic role of Zahra, an Iranian woman with a burning secret. When a journalist (Jim Caviezel, “The Passion Of The Christ,” “Déjà Vu”) is stranded in her remote village, she takes a bold chance to reveal what the villagers will stop at nothing to keep hidden. THE STONING OF SORAYA M. is inspired by Paris-based journalist Freidoune Sahebjam’s acclaimed international best-seller of the same name which, rife with intrigue and moral outrage. Director Cyrus Nowrasteh, along with his wife and fellow screenwriter Betsy Giffen, Nowrasteh, saw in Soraya one story that stands for thousands of untold tales around the world, from Africa to Asia, from Europe to America, wherever people are battling prejudice and injustice. Their screenplay takes the hard facts surrounding Soraya’s fate and carves from them a lyrical, fable-like passion play that gets under the skin.
Official website: www.thestoning.comScreening:
Thursday, October 22, 2009, 8:30 PM, Bayfield 7 Cinemas
Saturday, October 24, 2009, 3:30 PM, Imperial 8 Cinemas
Awards:
- WINNER, AUDIENCE AWARD, FEATURE, LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL, 2009
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