The film is based on a horrific true story, which depicts a tragic incident that occurred in a village in Iran in 1986. The film is based on a book written by French-Iranian journalist Freidoun Sahebjam. At the center of the story is a woman named Soraya, who falls victim to her husband’s conspiracy and becomes a victim of society’s hypocrisy.

Soraya’s husband, who wants to marry another underage girl and wants to divorce his first wife without paying her. Because the divorce will cost a lot of money. So he starts plotting how to force her to leave his family without paying her money. But when Soraya refuses, she is framed on a false charge—such as adultery. The villagers order her to be stoned to death, and through this cruelty, the true nature of the religious bigotry and blind faith of the society comes out.

Shohreh Aghdashloo, who plays Soraya’s aunt Zahra, is truly exceptional in her performance. She not only stands up for Soraya but also represents the oppressed women of society through her. Her sensitivity and brave voice throughout the film reaches deep into the hearts of the audience. Mozan Marno, who plays Soraya, feels the mental anguish and torture scenes real. I feel like I was there during this incident. I can definitely say that her helplessness, mental and physical suffering will touch everyone’s hearts. The society will be in a terrible state.

Director Cyrus Nowraste has perfectly portrayed this real-life incident. Every scene in the movie evokes an indescribable pain that will shake everyone’s heart. The stone-throwing sequence in particular is so real and tragic that it is difficult to bear. I am a person who watches movies full of extreme violence, but I could not take this sequence. However, the movie’s main message is that it shows with its finger how terrible the injustice against women in a patriarchal society and the inhumanity of the prevailing rules of society are.

The movie not only highlights the context of Iran, but also the ongoing oppression of women around the world. Here it is shown how a woman is isolated from society on the basis of false accusations and is subjected to arbitrary cruelty. This is a strong protest against the blind faith, patriarchy and hypocrisy of society.

The cinematography of the movie beautifully portrays the dark sides of rural life. The soundtrack is also made in line with the story, which makes each scene stronger. The camera work and background music convey the emotion and depth of the story even more deeply to everyone.

Lastly-
This movie should be watched by everyone. It will remind us how some of the prevailing norms of society can make women’s lives miserable, and if we are not aware, this injustice will never end. It is both heartbreaking and thought-provoking.