Thanks for joining us tonight when our guests are director Cyrus Nowrasteh and actress Mozhan Marno discussing the very timely The Stoning of Soraya M. As always, pups, please stay on topic.

Cyrus and Mozhan, thank you both for being our guests. The Stoning is such a powerful film which illustrates the powerlessness of women in certain societies and how religion is perverted for evil ends.

The Stoning of Soraya M opens June 26 in selected theatres.

Thanks for having us…

Cyrus, what drew you to this story–why this particular tale? And also where was it shot?

Welcome to Firedoglake!

Can’t say where it was shot because the host country has requested anonymity. I can tell you it is an Arab country in the Middle East. What drew me was the book which I read in 1994. It was emotional, gripping, heartbreaking, and inspiring. It screamed ‘movie’…

Wow..that’s pretty heavy, Cyrus. And underscores the seriousness and sensitivity of the subject matter in the Islamic world.

hi lisa. just catching up – brief internet issue, but i’m back. thanks for having us.

Last year Amnesty International released a report on stoning deaths. Is stoning an actually Koran sanctioned method of punishment, I know it is mentined inthe Bible (let he that is without sin cast the first stone)

The current Iran regime obviously intimidates its neighbors in the region. And, yes, sensitive material…which was also what inspired us to do it.

Welcome to the Lake, Cyrus.

Will Mozhan Marnò be joining us?

This event happened in the mid 1980s; would it, is it, happening still?

oo I guess so, Hi Mozhan.

Stoning is not in the Koran, but part of the Hadiths i.e. sayings or actions of Muhammad as witnessed by others — but many say there is no connection with stoning to Muhammad or the origins of Islam.

hi elliot.

I did not see the movie, is stoning the throwing of stones, or the placing of stones on the victim?

Welcome Mozhan Marnò!

What is needed?

I know that Turley writes quite a bit about stoning and child brides and other abuse in his blog, but what is the approach that will create positive results?

Is it non-religious affiliated education? Is it an effort to divorce Sharia from Mullah control and replace with courts that do not have Sharia powers. Is it getting religious leaders to re-interpret Sharia on a more moderate and widely applicable scale that would somehow be binding on local mullahs? Is it making the expenditures to bring outlying communities into more constant contact with other areas or is the problem equally as great where that happens (as with the honor killings that have cropped up in the US and Britain and elsewhere) And whatever the possible solutions, are they culturally acceptable or desired by large enough swaths of the population?

Throwing rocks at a bound victim until they die — it is barbaric.

Welcome to the Lake! This must have been a haunting experience for you, can you tell us about how you felt representing/portraying Soraya in the film?

I thought under Sharia, a man could divorce his wife simply by saying so, but obviously that is not the case in Iran at the time of the movie…

Well, I spent a lot of time living in the world of this character, and as an actor you must really delve deep into the psychology and circumstances of the character’s life. Of course, what people don’t remember is that even before the stoning, Soraya’s life was pretty dire – in an abusive marriage, no financial means, having been abused as a child, etc. It definitely put me in a dark place emotionally. That of course is all compounded by the fact that she suffers such an extreme death.

A start would be to abolish stoning and remove it from the Islamic Penal Code. Many inside Iran are for this…

Mozhan, how did you prepare for this movie/ roll?

Has the practice changed at all since the book was written? Any chance your movie will change hearts and minds in Iran and the Muslim world? (I realize Iranians are a bit distracted at the moment.)

She was so brave and it seemed to me that she believed in the goodness of her fellows, that she couldn’t believe people could be so evil. You gave the character a great depth

I read about life post-revolution, village life, watched documentaries and movies. But after I did that kind of research, the bulk of my work was emotional and physical. Finding the character, so to speak. Trying to make sure I remained very true to this person, instead of bringing my own sensibilites, my own modern, American sensibilities, to the role. That involved finding her voice, her walk – figuring out what her relationship to her children was, her sons v. her daughters, her relationship to her aunt, her husband, her dreams, nightmares. Doing my own back story work – creating her life before the story of the movie starts.

The practice continues — and must stop. It’s about reform, and that’s what people are clamoring for.

Cyrus, how did you come into the opportunity to write this and film this story. So very powerful and moving.

In Jan 2008 Amnesty International called on the country’s authorities to immediately abolish this grotesque punishment, which is specifically designed to increase the suffering of its victims.
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news…..n-20080115“

Everybody knew she wasn’t guilty in the community, especially the women. I couldn’t believe they just stood aside and said nothing.

Her children’s reaction horrified me perhaps most of all.

Thanks, Lisa. The way I read the script/character was that she discovers a strength of character by the end that she didn’t know she hitherto possessed.

It’s really a miracle, Bev — a certain set of circumstances coalesced. Pure luck. Producers who were game, found the $, and we were off…but it needed a script and Shohreh Aghdashloo first…She came aboard the minute she read it.

Oh, I can’t begin to imagine. I have tears in my eyes now thinking about it. I wasn’t sure I had the guts to see the movie, but now I feel it is my obligation as a woman to do so.

Will the publicity blitz take you across the globe? Will the movie be seen in Iran?

It is a difficult subject to talk about. So many martyrs believing in the goodness of humanity

Cyrus, you and your wife worked together on the screenplay–that must have been very intense given the subject matter–collaborating can be challenging normally. What was your work process like?

I just want to add that I think Mozhan’s performance is extraordinary. She was a joy to work with and delivered a powerful portrayal, a character who breaks our heart and inspires us…

I think I want to take Cyrus with me everywhere I go from now on.

Betsy wouldn’t let this project go once she read it. It was inspiring to me, even though I thought we had no chance to get the movie made. She responded as a woman, and I was the Iranian half of the equation.
We outlined the script, then she wrote the first draft and from there we alternated drafts till we felt it was right.

We hope the film will be seen in Iran, but I can’t imagine the Iranian government is going to allow it in any cinemas. I know the marketing department is working on the European distribution right now. I think it will be very popular, especially in France, where the book was first published.

This movie MUST be seen and talked about. far too often women are the victims of mob crimes fueled by falsehoods and cloaked in the lies of the religious officials. In The Stoning, the mullah calls Soraya and her aunt “witches” an accusation that can and does lead to death for women (and in fewer cases men) around the world.

and the mullah, who wasn’t really a mullah, but a former Shah bad guy.

It’s so real.. and why I want our guilty torturers prosecuted before they reintegrate back into regular society.

Iran has banned the film already — but it will be a bootleg dvd hit, trust me. And if things change there, who knows, it might be seen in theaters…

What a great team/work routine and shared effort. Thanks for letting us know……

“Witches” How archaic is that…and how sad.

Ali really had a racket going on at the jail house–he knew everyone’s secrets and was able to free his fiance’s father from death. I LOVED how you fleshed out the character of the men and how you didn’t condemn Islam, but rather showed the power of faith, especially when expressed by women.

I read in the New York Times today that there was an admission of error in some districts. Apparently, in some towns, the number of votes cast exceeded the number of people in the town.

Welcome Cyrus & Mozhan, do you have any updates about what is happening in Iran ? I’m getting a trickle of info. that the shooters in Tehran are not speaking Farsi, suggesting that Hired Guns have been brought in to do the killing.

This is related in a way … how do you feel about what is happening there, after having gotten immersed in the characters and making your film ?

Ahh, from the Movie trailer we learn that Soraya’s aunt passes the story of the stoning to an outsider.

Can either of you elaborate on that? Who was the man who brought the story out from the village. And btw what was/is the population of the village?

Tell us more about this aunt and what has happened to her, any backlash from the publication of the book?

Is she still living?

Zahra, Soraya’s aunt, is herself a faithful Muslim who invokes the mercy and compassion of God. A moment that really moves me is when she tells Soraya as she’s saying farewell to “pray for us, too” –

Great questions, Mary !

I don’t know whether our Guests can answer these questions but would love to hear their responses.

I heard some women from my town interviewed the other day about “covering.” They extol the virtues of not being able to be “objectified” and talked about how husbands must support their wives and children.

But this is a very dark side of that. You speak of the power of faith, expressed by women, in the film, Lisa.

It is a bit romantic perhaps to put that power of faith on display, in such a terrible circumstance. The reality is really a brutal and ugly thing, however heroic one’s faith, it seems to me.

A French/Iranian journalist (portrayed in the movie by Jim Caviezel) wandered into this village. An older woman gains his attention and invites him for tea where she proceeds to tell him this story. She knows he’s a journalist and wants to get the story out about what just happened to her niece. The population of the village was about 400 people…
The journalist, Freidoune Sahebjam, left the village with the story and published the account as a book which became a bestseller.

The man who brought the story out was Freidoune Sahebjam, the author of the book, The Stoning of Soraya M. He was a French-Iranian journalist, who learned of this story while reporting/traveling around Iran.

RevBev, many people–including children are tortured killed in Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda for being witches and there have been numerous witch craft killings throughout Africa and India, and with in the past year a woman was jailed in Saudi Arabia for practicing witchcraft and sentenced to die.

And let’s not forget that Sarah Palin her her pals “prayed a witch out of Alaska.” And while witchcraft still exists in many cultures, most of the are trumped up charges.

Discussionis fine as long as we stay on topic! Iran, human rights, and of course the movie The Stoning of Soraya M (which wil opne June 26 in selected theaters)

One could describe the laws and traditions that justify ’stoning’ as witchcraft. They go back to pre-biblical times — yet still go on.

What were the working conditions like? Was it summer or winter? Did you have any locals in the film? What was their reaction to the films story?

And what of the aunt?

They are talking about this movie right now on CNN.

We had a fantastic crew, and we shot March-April of last year. It was quite hot, but we shot in the most gorgeous location (which you all shall see when you watch the film!) All of our extras were locals from the village and surrounding villages – they actually all fancied themselves actors! They were very enthusiastic.

Thanks for doing this, Lisa.

I believe Mary asked those questions because Cyrus or Mozhan might have a unique viewpoint after doing this film that is not afforded to many of us.

Demi, that ’s good timing!

The release of the film could not be more timely.

Are there elements in the film that show the conflict between tradition and contemporary culture, the sort of thing that is underneath the election issues? Or because it is a village, likely rural, is this not relevant to the story?

Yes, indeed. We are truy blessed ot have them both here–and thank you Cyrus and Mozhan for taking the time to share your experience and insights wiht us!

Working conditions were difficult. We were in a very remote, tribal area. Many of the locals were supportive and thanked us for doing a story about this subject. It was Spring/Summer of last year. There was a local newspaper article that accused of being negative about Islam, but the local Imam came to our defense. He knew that wasn’t the case.

Lisa D and CNN on the same page – good timing indeed, but kind of weird – Ha.

A movie about stoning can’t help but show the conflict between tradition and contemporary culture. All that’s going on in Iran is relevant. Couldn’t be more relevant…

My pleasure!

Also, it’s relevant in the sense that the film is another form of protest.

Great talking with all of you — go see the movie!

How much of a change occurred between the rule of the Shaw and Ayatollah? There was the tension in the film mentioned several times between the two governments.

Thank you for making the movie and for being here today.

This film brings up the issue of capital punishment..and left me wondering (since America is such a death penalty driven country) are we any better because we execute people “humanely”? and some of those people, like Soraya, are innocent. Thank god for the Innocence Project and DNA testing….

Women were freer under the Shah — they could work, go to school, and didn’t have to wear the veil. Also, they weren’t restricted by Islamic dogma. But the Shah made other mistakes that caused him to lose power. Many believe things have not improved since, including some characters in our movie.

Women can still go to work and school, but every day life is more difficult, there are more restrictions, etc.

In theory, we have a trial before anyone is convicted and sentenced to death. Of course there are lots of innocents in places like GITMO who are denied trials, access to evidence, not to mention that DNA is not an element that can prove anything in these cases.

I read a fascinating article about women in Iran and their pursuit of the “perfect nose” via plastic surgery. Often we are shown images in this country that make Iran look completely poverty stricken, yet obviously the re is wealth and certain “western” trappings still at play there…

There is a great review of the film in Payvand News, a publication for the Iranaian diaspora, that asks that very question. Deena Guzman writes about the fact that because we “clean it up”, i.e. via lethal injection or electric chair, doesn’t mean we are any better. I think one of the things this film can do is force us to turn the mirror on our own culture and examine our own relationship to the death penalty.

Death by stoning, to be clear, is so unbelievably brutal, it was beyond my imagination until I got into that hole and experienced the simulation of it.

Iran is a mix of west and east and very cosmopolitan in Tehran, especially…much interaction with the West.

Well, Iran has had the experience of going from a more or less secular society under the Shah, to a society dominated by clerics, and now may be swinging back a bit in the secular direction. My impression is that the society has never been as dominated by religion (even under Kouhmeni) as Saudi Arabia.

Yes, Lisa. Even Iranians living in the US travel to Iran because they are known for nose jobs! :)

I haven’t read the book, but, did the scene with the traveling show really happen in the book?

Yes, isn’t that incredible! Very Fellini-esque, but it actually happened. Life is often stranger than fiction.

Yes — that’s from the book.

My father traveled to Tehran a couple times before the revolution on business. His company was thinking of relocating him there. He loved it…I hope one day relationships calm and normalize so there can be freer travel

Thank you. It was so surreal and a social comment at the same time.

What has been the reaction to your film from Muslims here and abroad?

And have your extended families seen the film? What are their feelings?

For the most part, Muslims have reacted very positively. The movie begins with a quote that essentially says “Beware the hypocrite who hides behind the Koran” — In other words, Islam is hijacked by individuals out for their own agenda.

I think my mother gets the prize for the person for whom it is most difficult to watch this film. She had SUCH a hard time, and was weeping for hours afterwards! But she loved the movie, and thought it was beautifully shot.

Mine are very excited. One called my Dad recently (he lives here) and said many over there want to see it — they get what it’s about and want ’stoning’ to stop.

And what is next for both of you?

I’m writing a script from the book, THE LAST CAMPAIGN, about Bobby Kennedy’s 82-day run for the presidency. It’s for Chris Columbus, Reliance, for Matt Damon.

I’ve got some things in the air, but don’t want to jinx any of them! But I feel very lucky to be involved in such a project so early in my career.

Awesome for both of you! I just want to remind out readers that you can find the theatre locattions for The Stoning of Soraya M here

And NEXT week we’re discussing NEW MUSLIM COOL which will air tomorrow night on PBS’ P.O.V.

Thank you Cyrus and Mozhan for joining us! And for making this awesome and awe-inspiring movie!

Thank you!

Thank you so much for your support, Lisa!

Thank you Cyrus and Mozhan, this was a great chat.
And of course, thanks to Lisa and Bev.

Lisa D.
When I was at WB, I worked for a man who did photography and filming on that campaign. You have my email.

Uh, did you really just have the writer of The Path To 9/11 in for a chat? On Firedoglake?

Up, meet down.

Please stop making shit up about Neda. It’s disgusting to see Americans exploiting this woman’s death to whip up anti-Iranian hysteria. And wtf at featuring Nowrasteh. Neocon bullshitters have enough places on the web to spread their poison. They don’t need ours.