The Stoning of Soraya M.

Cyrus Nowrasteh's film adaptation of Freidoune Sahebjam's acclaimed nonfiction book evokes feelings of outrage at post-revolution Iran's religious patriarchy, which is marked by hypocrisy and injustice that has led to the repression of women's rights. Inspired by a true account of a woman in an isolated border village in Iran, unjustly accused of adultery and condemned to a brutal end, The Stoning of Soraya M. unfortunately dilutes its serious social drama by presenting it in a melodramatic narrative. While the titular act is genuinely harrowing and disturbing (perpetrated by people whipped into a state of self-righteous piety to justify their brutality), the plot leading up to the carrying out of the sentence has the feel of a superficial murder-mystery, with the men one-dimensionally portrayed as either corrupt, cruel, weak, or falsely pious. Ultimately, it's not Soraya's innocence that makes her death so unjust, but rather the existence of double standards for men and women—with lethal consequences—regarding moral issues. Mozhan Marnò stars as Soraya, the woman whose only crime is her individualism, with Shohreh Aghdashloo and James Caviezel costarring. An optional purchase. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include two audio commentaries (one with director/co-writer Cyrus Nowrasteh; the second with line producer Stephen A. Marinaccio II, production designer Judy Rhee, costume designer Jane Anderson, and costumer supervisor Sierra Robinson), a “making-of” featurette (43 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an uneven film.] (S. Axmaker)