Sara Shahverdi, the first woman ever elected to the council of her Iranian village, fights to break through generations of patriarchal tradition. Teaching teenage girls to ride motorcycles and working to end child marriage, Sara dares to imagine a different future—one where women can choose their own paths.

But her efforts spark backlash. When accusations emerge questioning her motives, Sara’s hard-won position and sense of self come under siege.

With piercing intimacy and vivid observation, co-directors Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni craft a moving portrait of resilience. We watch Sara’s triumphs and heartbreaks unfold as she confronts both societal resistance and personal doubt. What might seem simple elsewhere—offering women a voice—is radical here, and Sara’s determination to open even the narrowest paths for others becomes an act of profound courage.

A testament to perseverance in the face of deep-rooted injustice, CUTTING THROUGH ROCKS is a vérité story of hope, heartbreak, and the quiet revolution of dignity.