http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1277737/

This is one of the most disturbing films I have seen in ages. I have a strong stomach, but this film almost made me feel sick. Not in a bad way though. I don't know how accurate this film is, but it is still chilling to watch. Some have accused this film of being Anti- Muslim, and Anti Iran, but I think those claims are BS. This film is a warning about the danger of Fundamentalism and mob mentality in its most brutal form. People decide to focus on the worst characters in the film rather than the overall message. I will not get too political in this review since i do not know enough about the subject. Getting down to basics though, as a message this film is powerful but the good news is that it works very well as a film. The message is important, but the film needs to stand on its own. All the performances in the film are very good, even James Caviezel is good though his part is small. Many aspects of this film can be compared to shakespeare classics like Othello, and the famous greek tragedies. We know what will happen in this film at the start. Something terrible has to happen, but it is not the tragedy that makes it work.

The way the character develop is what is important. Its like in the film Grave of the fireflies, we know at the start how it will end but its how the film gets there that counts. The husband Ali is one of the most despicable I have seen. His coldness toward the situation and his violence toward his wife make us hope something awful happens to him even though we know he will live. Throughout the film I was wondering how the stoning scene would happen. I became almost facinated with the idea of it and how primitive and brutal it is. When it happens though it was drawn out and more brutal than I could have imagined. The actress playing Soraya was amazingly convincing. The pain she was going through as everyone she thought she knew betrayed her was hearbreaking and the brutality of the stoning itself made me feel slightly ill. I highly recommend this film, but if you don't have a strong stomach the stoning might be a bit much. I am not spoling anything here because you know by the title how it will end. I am not reviewing the message of the film though, there are some scenes that are slightly melodramatic which are not as convincing. they almost make the film seem more theatrical and hollywoodized. The ending especially has plot devices straight out of a typical blockbuster film. That does not detract from the overall film much though.

Overall I give it a 9 out of 10.