Sara Shahverdi aims to break long-held patriarchal traditions by becoming the first elected councilwoman of her Iranian village; training teenage girls to ride motorcycles, stopping child marriage and advocating for female land ownership. Fierce and unapologetic, Sara is determined to break the cycle of empty promises and complacency passed down by the men who came before her. When accusations arise questioning Sara’s intentions to empower the girls, her identity is put in turmoil.
Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and nominated for an OSCAR in 2026, this film was 8 years in the making and has only been screened in Edinburgh and London, so far…

Mark says:
“Usually at this time, I’m thinking of my pitch, the interesting thought or angle to capture your imagination and the unique qualities that make this film worthy of your time and a slot on the Altrincham Film Club calendar. But with Cutting Through Rocks those questions didn’t occur to me. It is, quite simply, extraordinary: the best thing I’ve seen in ages.”

Reviews:
“Needless to say, Shahverdi is a badass.” Marya E. Gates, Roger Ebert.com

“A dynamic slice-of-life portrait of the lives of women in rural Iran.” Aviva Dove-Viebahn, Ms. Magazine.

“A moving portrait of one woman’s unyielding fight for equality, illustrating that even the smallest acts of resistance can catalyse something much greater.” Marissa Hill, Shade Studios.