Resistance is an art - and no one has mastered it better than Sara Shahverdi: in her village in northern Iran, she has long been known as a troublemaker for standing up for herself and other womxn against local patriarchy. That she becomes the first womxn to win the election as village head is a sensation; less surprising is that she immediately begins to turn the village on its head.

The film follows her closely as she prevents forced marriages and teaches girls how to ride motorcycles. She wants to give them a bright future. This soon makes her a thorn in the side of the patriarchal establishment.

Shot over more than seven years, Cutting Through Rocks shows the ongoing struggle for womxn’s rights in Iran from a new perspective and places its trust in hope and optimism.

"a deeply intimate and quietly defiant portrait of resistance and resilience" - Cineuropa

“practically magical” - Variety

"raucously entertaining” - Vulture