Movie review
September 27, 2025 · 95 min · PG-13
Woke Score
Lower is better
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Cutting Through Rocks.
Woke representation / casting
Real documentary with villagers in their natural Iranian setting; no forced diversity or identity signaling.
Woke political dialogue
Subject’s advocacy is practical local activism against child marriage and for girls’ mobility; no broader modern activist-style dialogue.
Identity-driven story themes
Core story is the real female councilwoman’s efforts to empower girls and challenge village gender roles; noticeable emphasis but per guidelines remains setting-appropriate non-Western resistance.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Portrays flaws in local patriarchal traditions and male entitlement in the village; setting-appropriate cultural critique, not modern activist framing of Western institutions or ideology.
Review
The documentary follows real-life Sara Shahverdi, the first female councilwoman in a remote Iranian village, as she teaches teenage girls to ride motorcycles and fights child marriage while facing rumors and patriarchal pushback. Gender norms, female agency, and local traditions form the main story engine with recurring scenes of her defying community expectations as a divorced, motorcycle-riding woman. Marketing and reviews constantly highlight “breaking patriarchal traditions” and women’s empowerment. Producers have activist track records in gender and social justice media.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
No notable anti-woke backlash or complaints; film received positive festival acclaim instead.
Creator track record context
Directors dedicated to gender equity stories; executive producers Judith Helfand and Rebecca Lichtenfeld have established track records in social justice, environmental justice, and human rights media.
Production
