Introduction to Injustice

And while Caviezel definitely agrees that stoning is an extreme example of injustice, making the movie was an all-too-pertinent reminder that “power in the wrong hands can be very dangerous, whether it’s in another part of the world or down the street.”

Drawn to the courage of the characters in Soraya M., particularly of the journalist he was asked to play, Caviezel hopes the movie will serve as an important reminder that suffering is very real—and happening all around the world. “When we first showed the movie to an audience, many people were angry because they didn’t realize what they were seeing,” Caviezel recounts. “But the anger was more about ‘How dare you show me that movie?’ than the fact this problem actually exists. I mean ‘How dare you make me feel like I have to do something? These are things I don’t like to look at. I like happy talk.’

“You don’t have to read any further than the Gospels and what happened 2,000 years ago or simply go outside where you live or the office you work at to see injustice happening all the time,” Caviezel continues. “And these injustices continue because people don’t want to get involved. But at some point, you have to say ‘You’re a coward’ if you don’t get involved. Films like this allow a trial run to occur. ‘Gee, I know what I am. I have to get right with this.’ We're all going to have our own trials, but what side are we going to choose? Good? Evil? The sin of commission or omission?”

As a person of faith, Caviezel says that being part of Soraya M. has once again reminded him that suffering isn’t always a bad thing—it’s an integral part of the journey as a believer. “Jesus knows there will always be suffering. That won’t change; it’s always been this way,” Caviezel shares. “But what separates his friends from those who walk without him is the grace that accompanies his followers. And that grace is peace, calm and especially love. These crosses that were carried in union with heaven benefit both the individual soul and the world. Viewed this way, the true way, the soul understands that suffering isn’t a bad thing. It’s a valuable thing to be exploited for heaven.”

The Truth Ain’t Pretty

In a culture where violence is ever-present in action movies and video games, not to mention the headlines of real-life news stories on a daily basis, the graphic ending of The Stoning of Soraya M. is still a shock to the system, even though you know what’s coming. Much like Jesus’ scourging and crucifixion scenes in The Passion of the Christ, there’s an inherent realism about the violence in Soraya M. that can’t help but stick with an audience, which is exactly what the filmmakers intended. It’s something that Caviezel credits to a great script and counts as a tribute to the cinematographer, director, producer—real filmmakers with goodness in their hearts and the desire to tell stories that change the world.