'Stoning of Soraya'
It became impulsive to write this post after a chain reaction of thoughts that started after watching screening of the movie 'Stoning of Soraya' at Norris Theatre, USC. After screening, discussion with director of the movie, Cyrus Nowrasteh, with participation of Iranian, American and other international students, I was forced to shed some of my strongly held views about the impact of cinema on society. Mind you, this blog post is not just about the impact of cinema on society.
The movie appeared to be (at least to me) demonizing Iran's Islamic Revolution and Sharia Islam law under the cover of being critical of human rights violation codified in the Iran's Sharia law. Stoning to death as a punishment is indeed deplorable and demands discontinuation. But was this the only issue that Cyrus was concerned about? Under the cover of 'being realistic', he creates an effect in bad taste with Allah uh-Akbar being chanted in the background while Soraya is stoned to death. He shrugs off the responsibility for the movie being interpreted as a propaganda against Iran and explains that violence shown in the movie is justified for it makes audience relate to the inhumane treatment of Soraya. He further adds that Cinema has no negative effect on an educated audience who is free to have an independent interpretation. He argues that the rationale of an educated man is unaffected by cinema and television.
Let me go off track:
Slavery, as we understand it now, is condemnable and is no less heinous than stoning a person to death. But it took an independent and democratic America grand 89 years to snail towards Thirteenth amendment in Constitution. It took another 82 years for the public to imbibe the amendment in spirit, for no prosecution has taken place since 1947 against the Thirteenth Amendment. Were people not educated at that time? Or do we claim to be blessed with more intelligence and understanding than President Thomas Jefferson?
Similar examples are replete in the history of other nations and cultures too. Why did that happen Mr. Cyrus? Were those people not educated who voted presidents who bombed Hiroshima and invaded Iraq in search of WM D's? Were educated people not fooled into the Nazi
propaganda or Bush's war on terrorism? No matter how many PH D's we pile up, as humans we don't think about every other thing that comes across us. We are prejudiced by our previous experiences and exposures. In matters that we don't understand or find ourselves short of facts, we behave and commit out of prejudice. And when I talk about experiences and exposure, Cinema and Television tops the list. Movies do have an impact on people.
May be people involved in Cinematic and Television are conditioned to analyze and absorb every other 'expression of art' in its truest and unbiased form but I do feel, most of us don't research a lot and are prejudiced unconsciously at the face of it. Here when I say 'us', I mean educated people too.
Movies like 'SoS' adds content to a pile of TV and Internet reports that implicitly blames or make masses think Islam as the root cause of wrong doings in the world. I too feel that there are lots of things about Islam and other religions that needs to be changed and requires a fresh interpretation. But, like US constitution's Thirteenth Amendment, it will take its own time. Violent images in the movie entice revolution. Revolution is not an answer. Evolution is.
An Iranian audience emphasized in the discussion session that violence in any form, particularly in sensitive issues with huge mass followings should not be shown in public by sensible cinema. Violence breeds disgust rather than empathy. Iranians in the audience were aggravated. The movie generated aggression and disgust among Iranians, more than empathy towards the character of Soraya. Was that the movie aimed for? If the movie fails to hit a chord among this educated Iranian audience, then who else is in a better position to understand and bring about change? What should we expect from the masses who sincerely believe in justice of this practice? We appreciating the efforts half the world away is not going to produce any ground result. It has to be Iranians. So what am I saying here? Should these kind of movies be banned? Certainly no. But at the same time, this genre should not claim to be a responsible cinema. This genre of cinema is far away from any claim of being a small step contributing to the improvement of human right conditions.
Roberto Benigni's 'Life is Beautiful' is one outstanding example that comes to my mind when I think of a good movie that made me empathize and feel the agony of Jews in concentration camps without a hint of disgust or anger. This is what is demanded, particularly in the current explosive environment surrounding Iran. 'Stoning of Soraya' is a movie in bad taste.
Violence and revolution is no solution for the problems and evils associated with age old religions, laws and practices. To evolve, is the only answer for a sustainable and a permanent change. United States stands out as an exemplary nation that has evolved to an advanced democratic system with enough 'feedback' to bring about positive changes and adapt to an ever changing world. Same opportunity should be given to other nations. Change should come from within. Let them think, let them analyze and let them criticize and bring about change. We, including LA resident Mozhan Marnò, has no right to be suggestive.
There are opposing movements in Iran. Iranian Noble Laureate, Shirin Ebadi is on a mission to bring about a change and she understands what it takes and means to bring a change from within. Iranian culture is quite different from western culture. Our perception of a change and forcing a quick one may lead to a catastrophe in the nation. Democratic and educated US was patient enough to bring Nineteenth amendment that gave equal voting rights to women after 144 years. 'Change' and 'Justice' bears different meaning for different people. Laws on the other hand should have a common interpretation and should be accepted by the masses in spirit. This acceptance takes time and Iranians know better than us how to achieve that for their country. Let us be patient and hopeful.
The movie appeared to be (at least to me) demonizing Iran's Islamic Revolution and Sharia Islam law under the cover of being critical of human rights violation codified in the Iran's Sharia law. Stoning to death as a punishment is indeed deplorable and demands discontinuation. But was this the only issue that Cyrus was concerned about? Under the cover of 'being realistic', he creates an effect in bad taste with Allah uh-Akbar being chanted in the background while Soraya is stoned to death. He shrugs off the responsibility for the movie being interpreted as a propaganda against Iran and explains that violence shown in the movie is justified for it makes audience relate to the inhumane treatment of Soraya. He further adds that Cinema has no negative effect on an educated audience who is free to have an independent interpretation. He argues that the rationale of an educated man is unaffected by cinema and television.
Let me go off track:
Slavery, as we understand it now, is condemnable and is no less heinous than stoning a person to death. But it took an independent and democratic America grand 89 years to snail towards Thirteenth amendment in Constitution. It took another 82 years for the public to imbibe the amendment in spirit, for no prosecution has taken place since 1947 against the Thirteenth Amendment. Were people not educated at that time? Or do we claim to be blessed with more intelligence and understanding than President Thomas Jefferson?
Similar examples are replete in the history of other nations and cultures too. Why did that happen Mr. Cyrus? Were those people not educated who voted presidents who bombed Hiroshima and invaded Iraq in search of WM D's? Were educated people not fooled into the Nazi
propaganda or Bush's war on terrorism? No matter how many PH D's we pile up, as humans we don't think about every other thing that comes across us. We are prejudiced by our previous experiences and exposures. In matters that we don't understand or find ourselves short of facts, we behave and commit out of prejudice. And when I talk about experiences and exposure, Cinema and Television tops the list. Movies do have an impact on people.
May be people involved in Cinematic and Television are conditioned to analyze and absorb every other 'expression of art' in its truest and unbiased form but I do feel, most of us don't research a lot and are prejudiced unconsciously at the face of it. Here when I say 'us', I mean educated people too.
Movies like 'SoS' adds content to a pile of TV and Internet reports that implicitly blames or make masses think Islam as the root cause of wrong doings in the world. I too feel that there are lots of things about Islam and other religions that needs to be changed and requires a fresh interpretation. But, like US constitution's Thirteenth Amendment, it will take its own time. Violent images in the movie entice revolution. Revolution is not an answer. Evolution is.
An Iranian audience emphasized in the discussion session that violence in any form, particularly in sensitive issues with huge mass followings should not be shown in public by sensible cinema. Violence breeds disgust rather than empathy. Iranians in the audience were aggravated. The movie generated aggression and disgust among Iranians, more than empathy towards the character of Soraya. Was that the movie aimed for? If the movie fails to hit a chord among this educated Iranian audience, then who else is in a better position to understand and bring about change? What should we expect from the masses who sincerely believe in justice of this practice? We appreciating the efforts half the world away is not going to produce any ground result. It has to be Iranians. So what am I saying here? Should these kind of movies be banned? Certainly no. But at the same time, this genre should not claim to be a responsible cinema. This genre of cinema is far away from any claim of being a small step contributing to the improvement of human right conditions.
Roberto Benigni's 'Life is Beautiful' is one outstanding example that comes to my mind when I think of a good movie that made me empathize and feel the agony of Jews in concentration camps without a hint of disgust or anger. This is what is demanded, particularly in the current explosive environment surrounding Iran. 'Stoning of Soraya' is a movie in bad taste.
Violence and revolution is no solution for the problems and evils associated with age old religions, laws and practices. To evolve, is the only answer for a sustainable and a permanent change. United States stands out as an exemplary nation that has evolved to an advanced democratic system with enough 'feedback' to bring about positive changes and adapt to an ever changing world. Same opportunity should be given to other nations. Change should come from within. Let them think, let them analyze and let them criticize and bring about change. We, including LA resident Mozhan Marnò, has no right to be suggestive.
There are opposing movements in Iran. Iranian Noble Laureate, Shirin Ebadi is on a mission to bring about a change and she understands what it takes and means to bring a change from within. Iranian culture is quite different from western culture. Our perception of a change and forcing a quick one may lead to a catastrophe in the nation. Democratic and educated US was patient enough to bring Nineteenth amendment that gave equal voting rights to women after 144 years. 'Change' and 'Justice' bears different meaning for different people. Laws on the other hand should have a common interpretation and should be accepted by the masses in spirit. This acceptance takes time and Iranians know better than us how to achieve that for their country. Let us be patient and hopeful.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI saw this movie also, and i actually reacted in a different form. I had this feeling that i was very blessed for being able to speak my mind, and to live in a free country. I felt that i had to stand up and be that voice of those that suffer injustices. I have actually joined a few organizations after watching this movie, and not only women organizations, but children and war refugees. i think this movie is not anti-islam, because there are extremists in all religions, i believe that the goal of this film is to shake us. To make us aware that some of us are extremely lucky to have been born in certain places, and with privilege, there comes responsibility. Special to help others around the world. Maybe a beautiful, less crude movie like life is beautiful, would not have shocked so much, and would have left us with a happy feeling that life is indeed beautiful. The reality is that this things are happening everyday, and there is the sense of urgency, so we can do something before is to late.
That i just my opinion.
Gold bless!!
Maria, I agree with your comment. I just saw the movie!!!!! It touch my heart.. I think we have to join together in order to stop this things that take place nowadays!!! I can believe it. Those women need the world care about this situation
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you ladies. I really felt more aware of women's right in different cultures. It is a shame what injustices are occurring around the world. It also made me what to learn more about places outside of the U.S. I really liked the movie and can't understand how people could not feel connected to other human beings going through similar situations.
ReplyDeleteI really feel that sometimes we need our stomach to be twisted for us to understand reality. I don't think Islam is all about that, not at all, but as Maria Jose said, you really need to understand there's injustice in every sector of society. And it also has a message that women should be treated equally, in all the sense of the word. We can see it in all those women that are raped, that are mistreated by men who hit them, who don't have the same rights.
ReplyDeleteAs you said, violence and revolution is not an answer. And I don't think the movie is inviting us to do that. It is inviting us to tell the story to the world, because sadly, many people don't think this is happening. This is based on a true story, it's not fiction, and the lady promised Soraya that she would tell the story of the world. I think this is a way for people to hear this story and understand that the world is not only about our little environment. We should be the voice of those who are unheard.
I didn't feel angry at the iranian man. I felt angry at the situation. They don't know what they are doing. I just was angry at Soraya's husband, not at the religion per se. Injustice makes me angry. And i'm not angry at them because I know they thought they where doing the right thing. Not all of us have the opportunity to be taught the moral values, that apply to all religions and cultures, even Islam. If it was an Islam thing, everybody in the religion will do it. But it's not the case. So it's not against Islam. It's against injustice, in general.
Mmm well I saw the movie, and I think is a story that must be see for the injustice background that has itself, not for the culture within, many people around the world and from differents cultures face this kind of injustices, and someone need to tell this story, so the humanity will learn to be comprehensive and open to the justice in all ways of living.
ReplyDeleteI think is a good movie that show and injustice story more than a cultural background.
I watche this movie as well, and it is a really powerful movie in every way! it opens your eyes to the reality of so many people! A MUST SEE MOVIE!
ReplyDeleteIf you see it as propaganda against Iran than that is your perspective which you are entitled to. It is however a film and thus a medium. Your perspective doesn't mean it's the message the film was meant to create. The ideas you choose to take away from it are yours and you have the privileged right of being able to share them how you want. I do suggest not letting subjective views of Cyrus interfere with objectively viewing the film. Please also keep in mind that the group of people you saw the film with represent one sampling of viewers not multiple viewer group. Check out interviews with Steve McEveety where he states that the film tested high with Iranian and Persian audiences in the U.S. Not everyone feels the same way as you do which is why this film is an account of what happened to an innocent woman, not an account from from every perspective in the film.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIt is a powerful and inspirational movie! it is so sad that these things are still happining in some countries
ReplyDeleteI disagree with the author of this post. This film shows the correct definition of social justice - being the voice for those that are not heard. This movie does a wonderful job of speaking for an issue that is often forgotten. It does what it is meant to - it raises awareness of an important topic.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the title of the movie made me think negative, the movie made me switch 180. This movie inspired me to appreciate where I live and the value I have as a woman. I did not believe that it was anti-Islam. Unfortunately, sometimes, movies cannot please everyone. That is the beauty of movies, they make you think.
ReplyDeleteIt is one of those movie that you must see it! It makes you think about those people who live in such a horrible reality, it opens your eyes!
ReplyDeleteI encourage people to go and see this movie and also to be ready for thismovie to open your eyes!
ReplyDeleteYes!! It’s a strong movie. But I’m sure that the film will generate conscience about this cultural problem.
ReplyDeleteIt ia a great movie, it is pure reality, its tine to open our eyes to reality!
ReplyDelete