CUTTING THROUGH ROCKS

In a small village called Benzin in northwestern Iran, the unthinkable happens: Sara Shahverdi—a divorced, motorcycle-riding former midwife—becomes the first Iranian woman to be elected to the local council. Tenacious and not easily intimidated, Sara is determined to improve her community and put an end to the empty promises and laziness that have been cultivated by local councilors for years. But it is precisely as an advocate for the girls and women in her village that she encounters the greatest resistance. Among other things, she wants to break long-standing patriarchal traditions by teaching teenage girls to ride motorcycles and preventing child marriage. When accusations are made that question Sara’s intentions to empower girls, her identity is shaken. A story about a woman who takes on responsibility early on, puts her own happiness aside, and gives hope to a young generation of women.

CUTTING THROUGH ROCKS celebrated its world premiere at the Sundance Festival and its German premiere at DOK Leipzig. The film was also presented at the San Francisco International Film Festival, Edinburgh International Film Festival, and Sydney Film Festival. At the Sundance Film Festival, the film was awarded the Grand Jury Prize in the “World Cinema – Documentary” category.