Winner of the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, Sara Khaki and Mohammad Reza Eyni’s Cutting Through Rocks is a portrait of a certified badass fighting for feminist progress in rural Iran. The film follows Sara Shahverdi, a land-owning, divorced, motorcycle-riding midwife, as she runs to become the first elected councilwoman in her village. Through her elected position and advocacy for the village’s married women and student-aged girls, Shahverdi aims to break long-held patriarchal traditions. Her mission to empower the girls and put an end to child marriage is tested when accusations arise regarding her intentions with them, calling into question her gender and sexual identity.
After watching it at Sundance, Victoria was moved to “tears of sadness and rage,” adding that “there’s so much bullshit these women have to deal with on a daily basis. This film reflects how internalized and systemic the oppression is, all just for being born a woman.” Impressed by the filmmakers’ dedication, Nakeem writes, “To produce a film like this, seven years of shooting in rural Iran, under this regime, is not easy. But they were passionate about sharing this story. I hope people listen, are moved and start to believe in the power of incremental change.” Tuyen agrees, writing that “the pain and joy of being a pioneer is incredibly well captured by the directors.” In their five-star review, GingerBinger simply shares, “In a world that hates women, we need more Saras.” MEG
