Cutting Through Rocks

This documentary follows Sara Shahverdi, a divorced former midwife and landowner in a remote Iranian village. After winning a local election by a significant margin, she becomes the first woman to serve as a councillor in her community. Shahverdi works to challenge patriarchal customs by advocating for women and girls, specifically by fighting child marriage and teaching teenage girls how to ride motorcycles. Her efforts to progress the village and replace the inefficiency of previous officials lead to social friction, and she faces accusations that question her true motives for empowering local youth.

The film was produced by Gandom Films and directed by Sara Khaki and Mohammad Reza Eyni, who also served as producers. It features Sara Shahverdi appearing as herself. The production is a United States release with a runtime of 95 minutes. Audience reception has been generally positive, with the film earning a rating of 7.3 on IMDb from 761 votes and a 7.5 on TMDB based on 17 votes.