CUTTING THROUGH ROCKS

Dirs. Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni | Documentary | Qatar / Chile / Iran / Canada / Netherlands / Germany / U.S.A. | 2025 | 1 hr. 35 min. | Azeri Turkish, Farsi, with English subtitles

Followed by a discussion with directors Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni, and consulting producer Rebecca Celli 

As the first woman elected to the council in a rural Iranian village, Sara Shahverdi fights to create a better future for local girls. A divorced, motorcycle-riding former midwife, she launches a motorcycle training program and speaks out against child marriage. Through these actions, she confronts deeply rooted cultural norms. Her efforts are praised by some and criticized by others, as the community grapples with this drastic shift. When accusations arise, questioning her intentions, Sara faces a reckoning that challenges her sense of purpose. A grand jury prize winner at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, this film offers an inside look at one woman’s struggle to bring change to a place where old traditions are hard to break.