Film Preview: The Stoning of Soraya M

THE STONING of Soraya M.

When a Deadly Conspiracy Became a Shameful Cover-Up

One Witness Refused to Be Silent

Released across UK cinemas on 22^nd October 2010

Based on a true story and best-selling book

“The Stoning of Soraya M.” by

FREIDOUNE SAHEBJAM

Directed by

CYRUS NOWRASTEH

Starring

SHOHREH AGHDASHLOO

MOZHAN MARNÒ

and

JIM CAVIEZEL

Written by

BETSY GIFFEN NOWRASTEH & CYRUS NOWRASTEH

www.thestoning.com

THE STONING OF SORAYA M trailer can be downloaded here: https://www.yousendit.com/download/WTNJN3RkdENsamRFQlE9PQ

Synopsis:

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.

Thus begins the remarkable account of what happened to Soraya (Mozhan Marnò), a kind, spirited woman whose bad marriage leads her cruel, divorce-seeking husband to conspire against her, trumping up charges of infidelity, which carry an unimaginable penalty. Moving through a minefield of scheming, lies and deceit, Soraya and Zahra will attempt to prove Soraya’s innocence in a legal system stacked against her. But when all else fails, Zahra will risk everything to use the only weapon she has left – her fearless, passionate voice that can share Soraya’s story with a shocked world.

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, first brought global attention to the real Soraya, who in 1986 was buried to her waist in her hometown square and stoned to death by her fellow villagers.

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 by posing a provocative question: Who among us would throw stones and who would take a stand against them?