Cutting Through Rocks

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Cutting Through Rocks

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1h 34m

Documentary

Biography

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24 Reviews

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As the first elected councilwoman of her Iranian village, Sara Shahverdi aims to break long-held patriarchal traditions by training teenage girls to ride motorcycles and stopping child marriages. When accusations arise questioning Sara's intentions to empower the girls, her identity is put in turmoil.

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Peyton Robinson

RogerEbert.com

The film grants hope for the women of Iran through its thick-skinned subject, putting her resume and grit on display.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 21, 2025

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Sheri Linden

New York Times

Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni, who directed and edited the documentary, with Eyni also serving as cinematographer, have made a film that pulses with so much hopefulness that when Shahverdi’s story takes a shocking turn, it’s a punch to the solar plexus.

Nov 20, 2025

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Siddhant Adlakha

Variety

Despite feeling drawn-out, the doc features occasional bursts of visual panache that help emphasize its underlying story.

Feb 3, 2025

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Joel Copling

Spectrum Culture

A standard but engaging profile of Shahverdi that functions more effectively as a portrait of the contemporary politics in her region.

Nov 25, 2025

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Gregory Nussen

Screen Rant

Khaki and Eyni deliver the reminder that, sometimes all it takes to engender political power is the desire to earnestly speak for those you represent.

Rated: 7/10

Nov 24, 2025

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Christopher Campbell

Nonfics (Substack)

It probably could have worked at half the runtime, but Shahverdi and her feminist efforts, including her support for young girls staying in school and not marrying as preteens, are never not captivating.

Nov 21, 2025

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Stephen C

Real footage in 1 hour and 34 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/21/25

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Mohammadreza Eyni

Director

Sara Khaki

Director

Eyni Sara Khaki

Director

Mohammad Reza Eyni

Director

Eyni Sara Khaki

Producer

Mohammad Reza Eyni

Producer

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Synopsis

As the first elected councilwoman of her Iranian village, Sara Shahverdi aims to break long-held patriarchal traditions by training teenage girls to ride motorcycles and stopping child marriages. When accusations arise questioning Sara's intentions to empower the girls, her identity is put in turmoil.

Director: Mohammadreza Eyni, Sara Khaki, Eyni Sara Khaki, Mohammad Reza Eyni
Producer: Eyni Sara Khaki, Mohammad Reza Eyni
Production Co: Gandom Films Production
Genre: Documentary, Biography
Original Language: Persian
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 21, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 1h 34m