VIEW

Shohreh or Fariba

I think it is Ms. Fariba Taghavi who has sold herself out (again) to the mollahs.

The IRI has an army of intellectual whores who are either (masalan) writers, professors or otherwise scholars who enable the regime.

They were quite for a couple of weeks, but they are back at it.

Their crime against Iran is as terrible as those of Basij.

Dear Irrelevant

You noted [But I have no doubt that stoning and hanging people in public places
have been practiced in the past 30 years in Iran. Do we agree on that? If so, why don't we want Americans and other nations know about it? Did we not see on the media, news and even on this website that how the Iranian government killed innocent and unarmed people?]

I have to admit that I agree with what you are saying about public hangings and stoning, however allow me to ask you one question:

Would you rather Iranian women to be portrayed as a NEDA and those brave young women who so valiantly stood in front of Basiji's or SORAYA and Zahra[Aghadashlo] ?

Regards

-YT 

My problem with this movie

My problem with this movie was that it comes across as a low-budget,primitive film making. The Persian actors are are LA-based and they show it. The main character in the movie speaks farsi with an accent and yet playing a peasant woman!- The characters had no depth,dialouge was very amateurish,and ofcourse shohreh aghadsho as always,over the top! I can't help wonder how the message of this film(that these things do happen under the misguided interpretation of Islam) would have been interpreted differently if its quality was actually better.

I had mixed feelings about this film as a "film" but there is no denying that these things do happen in iran and the people who watched her stoned to death are probably the same bassijis or the father/mothers of the bassijis that are running around in Iran killing people. These evil people do exist and as much it is hard for us to accept,women in rural areas of iran are subordinate to their men. Like I said I just wish the movie was better made with "real" actors

Hollywood and B movies!

It maybe worth mentioning that this film was not released by "Hollywood". Even the big studios have better sense to know the real ambition behind this propaganda film. This is a small independently produced B movie! It was probably part of a concerted effort to create bad PR. Here is an example of such efforts that was leaked to a well known source:

//www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1089463.html

This is a small film that will never return any money to its investors. So why did they make this film? Could it have been anything other than a propaganda film? Advocates of war with Iran and Bush/Neocon style injected democracy need to know that they are also part of an ugly history. We are upon a new area in Iran so get on board and align yourselves with the people of Iran. This might help erase your past treturous alliances.

When Christian Evangelists

When Christian Evangelists pay for films and right-wing Neocons write the script, the same Nowrasteh who blamed Clinton for 9/11 (see the movie The Path to 9/11) and is the main speaker for Liberty Film Festival which celebrates Democracy, Israel and US, and the main actress goes to O’Riley’s Fox News and spats verbal diarrhea about Iran, one gets the idea that there is something wrong!

We have worked for more than 100 years for representation of democracy and limits on power of kings and dictators. No one talks about this: 1906 constitutional revolution, 1953 Coup d'etat, 1963 revolt, 1979 revolution... only Not Without My Daughter, House of Sand and Fog, Stoning Soraya M comes out about Iran on the Hollywood screen. For those who still go to Iran and have a connection with their motherland and don't mistake Brentwood or Newport Beach and Staurbucks and Peete's Coffee with Naser Khosro and Valiasr, they know there are a lot of good things about Iranians in Iran.

But why should these be mentioned in the West? Only the worse. It is like showing films only about America where blacks are portrayed as poor, Southerners as in breeders, and others as child molesters and bigots and repeatedly show these things about the US on screen.

How would you think the people in the world then would look at Americans or meet and greet them? Those stupid Iranians who first say crap about Iran and so demonize its people and then talk about their 2500 history and Cyrus Cylinder can't see the contradiction in what they say. Unless only the Iranians living in Los Angelesabad and Cabaret Tehran in the Valley and Javier's in Newport Beach are the good Iranians. That of course is far from the truth.

The IQ of most people who have written comments here is below the entrance level into pre-school. Dr. Taghavi please don't waist your time writing for a bunch of ignoramus where there is little analytical ability, 4th grade intelligence and who subscription is to Javanan, OC PC and Aroos magazine. Write for more intelligent people.

What is the confusion about?

Let me tell you first that I have not watched the movie. I don't have the stomach for it, sorry. But I have no doubt that stoning and hanging people in public places have been practiced in the past 30 years in Iran. Do we agree on that? If so, why don't we want Americans and other nations know about it? Did we not see on the media, news and even on this website that how the Iranian government killed innocent and unarmed people? I cannot even imagine what is happening behind the closed doors in Evin. Do we not witness how the Iraninan government cheats, kills, destroys people's homes and blames others for it?
People who live outside Iran think about their own agendas. We want to look good in front of our American friends, husbands/wives. Are you an advocate of Iranian women? If so, admit the fact that women in remote villages and rural areas do not have the same voice and persistence as the women in big cities such as Tehran. Admit the fact that human rights and women rights do not mean anything to the Islamic Republic. Even one stoning is too many.

Please have your Dictionary when you are reading this article

For the people who are criticizing this article; Please have your dictionary next to you and read it one more time since you guys don't understand it.. Thank you

It's about the people stupid!

This article is pointing out to the films characterization of more than IRI but also the Iranian people themselves. Portraying everyday and average Iranians as savages only projects an Orientalist attitude towards Iran. All of this at a time when the world is celebrating the heroic efforts of the Iranian nation who with courageous women in front lines stood up to the forces of tyranny. There are those who want and need an Iran who makes an adversary worthy of severe punishment via military adventures. Collaboration with the enemies of an Independent Iran and advancing their cause WILL lead to calls for war. The price of fighting the current regime in Iran should not be sacrificing the people of Iran who are making the most sincere effort to free themselves. We can only echo their calls outside Iran and in doing so we have to reject those who can not see an independent Iran at the same time. Portraying us collectively as backward people is a tool for collective punishment in which the people of Iran will became collateral damage much like Iraq. Be careful what you wish for!

Ms. Taghavi

Excellent  review, I truly enjoyed reading it.

I agree that  real struggle of Iranian Women is being smeared by such movies, in the same fashion that movie 300 depicted the our proud Persian heritage as barbarians.

The world is witnessing our true heroines [SHIR-ZAN's] and true struggle of Iranian women and they are humbled to say the least.

For ones who think that negative but logical  reactions to this movie  is equvalant to endorsing IR, let me bring to your attention the movie by Mel Gibson called [The Passion of Christ].

Although the movie was based on stories of the Gospel, we saw the reaction from Jewish community, and many other religious group, and how they denounced it. In the area of US that I live [The Bible Belt] the movie was banned from the screens and it became available only in DVD. Same thing happened to the movie by Bill Maher "Religulous", after one day of screening, it was yanked from the screens.

-YT 

Reality hurts -- so what about NEDA or Zahra Kazemi

Public Stoning, public flogging and beating and killing happens in Iran on daily basis under the current regime and based on their religiuos beliefs.

 Again holywood comes up with a movie and Iranians are all over it, pathetic.

These are the same people who were on the streets shouting a few days ago FREE IRAN and down wit IRI.

As I have said repeatedly the Iranian in America are confused, they are lost, they have no clue. make up your mind IRI or Iran. So burn your damn Iranian passports if you realy mean it.

The regime kills and slaughters people and the truth is they are murderers. Now let the world see how stoning is done in Iran.

 The movie doesn't even show the head expolosion and the eyes poping out.

Do you remember our NEDA movie?

CHEERS

Thank you

This was a great piece. My exact sentiments about movies like that. Yes, the truth about the brutalities of the law and judiciary process in our country should be brought to the world's attention. But, I have a huge problem with the fact that some sell-out artists sponsored by war mongers and hard line politicians try to demonize my people and my country.

Many of Iranians living outside Iran have lost their respect for themselves as a nation. We can see that in their shallow comments here. As though they are trying to use the "Western World's sympathy" to free us from the hands of the evil people in Iran (Please!!!!).

Stoning women should be banned and stopped and all the perpetrators should be brought to justice someday (I hope). It is the most barbaric and primitive form of punishment, and so is bombing innocent people in the name of freedom dropping larger pieces of concrete and stone on their heads and call it casualties of war.

This movie was released to undermine the efforts of young Iranians for freedom and Iranian women who have been fighting for their rights in Iran. This movie is trying to suggest that we as a "dark evil nation" are "not ready for freedom and democracy". I know, there are bastards everywhere and we have a large number of educated and uneducated fanatics and bastards ( nafahm-haroomzadeh dayoos) in our country. I know... But, If anyone thinks this movie is helping us Iranians he/she needs some education and deep thinking about the negative consequences of such propaganda before using his/her emotions.

I just had one problem with your essay; you mentioned that Jewish intellectuals explicitly and rightly condemned the deplorable repercussions of such movies. That has not been my experience living outside Iran for the past 25 years. Most of the Western Jewish, Christian conservative and Liberal intellectuals that I have met, known or worked with (except for my real real friends) have always loved such movies justifying their feelings of superiority; " see how evil you muslims and Iranians are and how lucky you are to be in my country??"

Charactor

the best Judgment of people in the world is how they treat helpless animals.

Iranians hate and kill stray dogs and cats for fun. How many times have you seen our people being kind to animals? I am not talking about north Tehran or USA residence.

Well, Humans are also two legged animals. Did you expect them to treat these animals any better?

Stoning Soraya

Dear Dr. Taghavi,

Thank you so much for your insightful Article. I would like to start with even one stoning in past 3 decades is too much, but regardless of its message, this film was awful. One can disagree politically, yet make a good film. This was a weak, insulting and manipulative film. They portrait a village full of heartless evils in which even Soraya’s little boys join stoning her, and no one objectse to this punishment expect “Zahra “ who is the only outspoken person in the entire movie that speaks English to tell her story to a foreign journalist. There was no balance in portraying Iranian men. This is very unfair and untrue picture of Iranian men.

Thank you,

Parvin Rastgoo

Please read more books

Please read more books regarding your country(if you are iranian) and then make comment like that and also research about the director as well.

Here we go again

If they released this movie two years a go, five years a go,even  ten years a go, you would be  hearing same kind of none sense again "jews are behind it" "it's done by war mongerers" "it shows Iranian people as savages"  "work of republicans " list goes on an on...

 Apparently some of us do not want to accept the fact that some things are wrong in our  society.I guess the thinking is by not talking about it and hiding the facts it might just go away! 

La Femme lapidee, "A true Story"!

I haven't seen the movie yet, but I read La Famme lapidee a while ago when it came out first in France. Back then I didn't have any doubt about the truthfulness of Sahebjam’s tale, and now there are even videos of people at the verge of being stoned in Iran on Youtube!

In my humble opinion, I don't think that the artist’s job is to fix a whole nation’s image. Anyway, our image in the media has been destroyed by our own government for years, and then just recently it has been rebuilt and glorified by ordinary Iranians, through the latest after-election protests, by the real images of brutality of a regime and the incredible bravery and resistance of a lost youth/generation. Iran doesn’t need to be depicted as a great nation by every book/movie/art work ever made about it, and there isn’t any single book/movie/art work in the world capable of ruining a whole nation’s reputation. Iran stands tall because of the amateurish videos that the whole world saw in the last weeks.

So I think that Sahebjam’s work is supposed to make us think about Soraya M’s miserable life and painful death and the cruel punishment that she had to endure...and I hope that once we're done with reading the book, and once we're out of that movie theater, we would be thinking about the real tragedy of stoning.

Thanks, Azarin

That was a real shame

That was a real shame.

be silent and don't take part at any similar event.
by the way improve your studies about your country dear stupid

I Never liked Shohreh!

I remember seeing one of her movies that she played with Behrooz Vosooghi.In a scene she was sewing behrooz pants and he had it on and her mouth was to close to his zipper and this was before the revolution and this was just too much for that period. When I hear her name I start disliking her and her raspy voice.

Back in 1987 I went back to

Back in 1987 I went back to Iran after 11 years in the States to fulfill the promise that I had made to my family that I would be back.
One day at my work there was an announcement on the bulletin board that on so and so day there will be a hanging on the bridge of the industrial complex of the city of Arak (pol-e shahr-e sana’ti).
I was shocked, appalled and frightened. I had only heard and seen hanging on Western movies and even those made me sick. Now I was living in a society and in a city that not only they did hanging, but they were announcing it for people to attend if they wanted.
I forgot about it till the day of hanging when we were on the bus going to work at 7:00 am. I saw thousands of people, men, women and even children gathered around the bridge waiting for the hanging to take place.
I never knew who they were or what they were being punished for. I was not even mad at the authorities for doing that barbaric acts.
However what made me a changed man was the presence of all those people to whom hanging was something interesting to watch. I lost all my hope for humanity. I decided to leave that forsaken country and its evil people.
Please feel free to call me any name you like. Unlike a lot you I believe there are a lot of evil people in this world and our part of the world especially has a good share of them.
peace.

Read More Books, Please!

Dr. Taghavi:

Iranian-American ignorance and their lack of education in non-technical fields (since the majority are ambulance chasers, cheating mortgage brokers, bored engineers with lost souls) contributes to such comments as the one posted here in reponse to your thoughtful and keen analysis of the underlying causes of making this movie. We need more people like you to enlighten the majority of us who don't know what we're talking about.

Thank You!

AC

Thank You: An Intelligent Voice

Dr. Taghavi,

Many thanks for voicing an intelligent opinion about another attempt on the part of the neoconservatives who now have joined those Iranians who are willing to sell themselves for a handful of dollers.

Most Iranians can not understand that the movie is made, paid and supported by people who only want to bomb us, my parents and friends in Iran. Also by defaming Iran, they think things will get better.

If Iranians want to stop stoning, we should speak among ourselves in Persian media and television and pay less attention to Susan Roshan, Leila Forouhar and Shoreh.

But, why in English? who was the intended audience for this film? Ok, Aghdashloo proved once again for all the Americans that we are barbarians. Thank you.

Wrong Place, Wrong Time?

As babakKhoramdin rightfully pointed out, you couldn't have cared less who should be making movies about stonning, if you happened to be the one getting stoned.  And I don't mean as a result of smoking weed.  I mean a little hanky panky outside of that so-called marriage to that ugly old man who bought you from your poor parents, end up causing your head to get smashed with the rocks thrown at you by all your enemies in the village.  //www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct4sVVqeoUE&feature=related

Thank you Dr.Tagahvi

Although the Iranian autocratic regime has proven to have no respect for human rights of any kind, including the woman's rights.

This does not excuse a cheap ploy by Ms. Aghdashloo and her cohorts to exploit woman's right in Iran to make another Not without my daughter.

This is doubly insulting, at least Sally Fields was not familiar with Iran and could be excused as ignorant. Ms. Aghdashloo and the rest of her gang are opportunist at best and are possibly malicious.

This was such a bad movie.

This was such a bad movie. There was no story to it. It's so unfortunate when Iranians try to become famous in the US or Europe by depicting themselves as evil people. You could not find ONE positive character in this movie.

Stoning of Soraya

Regardless of its message, this was a bad film. You could disagree politically, yet you can make a good film. There was no character development. No believable element in any of the character's motifs.... Even if you want to make science fiction, you have to make it believable... this was supposedly a true story, but as a film, it was like a caricature. As if as soon as you put a man in a mullah's robe, automatically he is a villain... just like the Islamic Republic's early movies, if you want to show an evil man, have him wear a tie! This was bad filmmaking. Bad directing. Bad screenwriting. The actor's decent performances were wasted in this insulting and manipulative film. If you show me a scene someone stoning my enemy in slow motion, I will be emotionally upset... so of course it is upsetting to see the woman being stoned to death... but the entire film leading up to that scene was so contrived and manipulative that instead of feeling sorry for the woman in the story, you get mad at the filmmaker to be taking such a cheap shot at the audience's emotion... You guys can argue about the "who's behind this film", etc... but these arguments are pretty irrelevant... This was just an awful film. Don't waste your money seeing it... stay home and have heated political discussions with your friends instead!

The film

There used to be a time when Orientalism was handled by those in the west who created it as a way of looking at the "East" and promoted its different guises in literature, painting and music.

It is unfortunate for us ( Iranians ) to the work of the western orientalists by ourselves. We do that because we fall for the framework they created for us. The mirror they are holding to our face is not that which is designed by us. We need, no doubt, to re-examine our own despotism. But we should not employ western vocabulary and Hollywood sensationalism that has today become an all too familiar racist discourse.

well done

Thank you!! Well done

Right on

Dr.Tagahvi, Thank you for exposing the people behind this film and Agdashlou who is willing to sell herself for a buck. I saw the film and was horrible and portrayed IRANIAN PEOPLE Specially men savage,backwards and heartless. Thank god during this time people of world saw the picture of brave Iranian men and women. I went with my American friend and the first question she asked me,Would your dad do this to you same to you?????

I agree with reality....

you should blame the mullahs instead of writing this stuff to dissuade people from watching this great film!
I bet you wouldn't write this if you were stuffed in dirt up to your neck!

there's a bigger picture

Fariba jan, Have you lived in post revolution Iran? I wished this movie was shown 30 years ago when people were crying out for world’s attention. I think the idea is to tell the truth no matter how ugly it is. I just can't understand why we (Iranians) have trouble telling the facts and facing the truth. So there may be less stoning now, but the system has deprived women from their basic freedoms for over 3 decades. That deprivation comes in many shapes and forms. I have not seen the movie, so I won't make any comments about the movie itself. Soraya's story is true and there are many alike. Obviously, the movie is not the entire story because it's a form of entertainment. No expectations there. I don't know if Soraya's children stoned her in real life, but in the early days of revolution I know of many parents who snitched on their own children for the love of Ayatollah. Do you know why? Because people of Iran are vulnerable and attached to their religious believes. Stoning your own mother doesn't represent the evil in people, it only represents their (excuse my language) stupidity and sustainability in being brain washed.This is not even about Iran, but it's about that entire region. It's about people's desperation, destructive culture, and religious dogma. We can't pretend to be much different from Pakistanis or Afghanis--may be by few degrees. Our societies exercise violence and brutality. It must be shown.