Mohammad Rasoulof is well acquainted with the dangers of political filmmaking. Rasoulof had his passport confiscated in 2017 after his film A Man of Integrity criticized corruption in the Iranian government and he was arrested multiple times, most notably in 2010 and in 2022, for charges of creating propaganda against the Iranian government. Now, with the creation of The Seed of the Sacred Fig, he has been forced to flee the country after facing an eight year prison sentence and flogging, and now lives as an exile in Europe.
It is easy to see why the Iranian regime may view the 51-year-old-director’s newest film as a threat. The Seed of the Sacred Fig is deeply and inherently political, mixing real footage of protests with a riveting domestic thriller. It centers on a family undergoing a minor upheaval: the father, Iman (played by Misagh Zare), has recently been promoted as an “investigator” for the Iranian government. His wife Najmeh (Soheila Golestani) tries to support her husband in his work for the regime, and in upholding the traditional values that the regime stands for. However, their daughters Rezvan (Mahsa Rostami) and Sana (Setareh Maleki) are more revolutionary. Inspired by the Woman, Life, Freedom uprising, they are questioning the patriarchal values of their father. As the family adjusts to the lifestyle brought on by Iman’s new role, tensions rise and conflict emerges that threatens to tear them apart.
The Seed of the Sacred Fig functions on multiple levels. On the most basic level, it entertains. Though the film has a nearly three hour runtime, it holds our attention, shifting between a twisted mystery, a compelling domestic drama, and an anxiety-inducing paranoid thriller. All four main characters are rich and layered, with strong, measured performances from all of the actors. Rasoulof and cinematographer Pooyan Aghababaei demonstrate solid technique too, sprinkling stylistic visual flourishes throughout the straightforward direction of a realist drama.
On a metaphorical level, the film is a powerful critique of the Iranian regime. In its first half, the movie balances its perspective between Iman and the women in his family. We understand the pressure that each family member faces, recognizing how both the parents try to balance making moral compromises with preserving the safety of their family. However, as things start to slip in the second half, we get a clear view of just how far Iman (and, by proxy, the Iranian regime) is willing to go when people challenge his authority.
Finally, as a document of a political uprising and an endorsement of feminist action, The Seed of the Sacred Fig is undeniable. Rezvan explicitly challenges the misogynistic views of her parents and the ways that the regime not only oppresses women, but also propagates lies through the media. The videos she watches on social media tell a different, far more brutal story, one of state violence against young women who refuse to wear the hijab. We witness the videos alongside Rezvan, as Rasoulof embeds real cellphone footage of actual protests throughout the film. The footage of these women, real people who bravely fought for their rights, are among the most impactful moments in the film.
Ultimately, The Seed of the Sacred Fig is a fictional story rooted in stark reality. It will not get any support from the Iranian government, but it is deservedly being celebrated at festivals around the world. It is a compelling work of political art and is without a doubt one of the most courageous films of 2024.
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The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Farsi: دانهی انجیر معابد)— Iran/France/Germany. Dialog in Farsi. Directed by Mohammad Rasoulof. Running time 2hr 47min. First released May 24, 2024 (Cannes). Starring Misagh Zare, Soheila Golestani, Mahsa Rostami, Setareh Maleki, Niousha Akhshi, Reza Akhlaghi.
This article is part of Cinema Escapist’s dedicated coverage of the 2024 Vancouver International Film Festival.