Cutting Through Rocks

Cutting Through Rocks, directed by Mohammadreza Eyni and Sara Khaki, is an Oscar-nominated documentary that follows the life and struggles of Sara Shahverdi, a trailblazing woman in her rural Iranian village. Within Iran’s patriarchal social order, institutional and cultural barriers manifest daily in forms of surveillance, discrimination, and violence that not only constrain individual life choices but also systematically suppress collective efforts toward gender equality and civic participation. 

As the first woman ever elected to the local council, Shahverdi embodies courage and determination in her commitment to social change. She rides a motorcycle through her community—both literally and symbolically breaking boundaries – while advocating for the rights of women and girls, including campaigns to prevent child marriage and to expand opportunities for education and leadership. Despite her tireless efforts, Shahverdi encounters persistent opposition from conservative villagers who resist her progressive initiatives, creating a tense and intimate portrait of resilience, ambition, and the slow, often fraught struggle for social transformation within a traditional society.

Director: Mohammadreza Eyni and Sara Khaki. Countries: Iran, Qatar, Chile, Canada, Netherlands, Germany, United States. Released: 2025. Length: 95 min. Format: DCP. Language: Azerbaijani, Turkish, Persian, English with English subtitles.