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The Seed of the Sacred Fig
2024

The Seed of the Sacred Fig

Mohammad Rasoulof’s defiant indictment of the Iranian regime focuses on a judge with the power of life and death. However, his comfortable life quickly unravels as he faces a generational revolt in this taut political thriller.

Director

Mohammad Rasoulof

Runtime

168 Minutes

Country

Iran, Germany, France

Classification

M

“An anguished cry from the heart.” (IndieWire)

More than any other filmmaker, Mohammad Rasoulof has had the courage to push the boundaries of what is permissible in Iranian cinema. This searing indictment of Tehran’s theocracy and its treatment of women comes from one of the foremost critics of the regime.

Iman (Misagh Zare) is a complacent servant of the state with a comfortable place inside a rotten system. He is appointed as a judge which gives him the power of life and death, as well as a nice new apartment, and a gun to protect it all. Cracks quickly appear as he faces a generational revolt within his family and his gun goes missing. This depiction of tyranny transforms into a surprisingly taut political thriller.

The story behind the film is every bit as eventful. Rasoulof suffered imprisonment and the threat of flogging for unauthorised filmmaking. He presented the film at Cannes only after fleeing Iran on foot across the mountains.

“Its courage – and relevance – are beyond doubt.”

The Guardian

“Overtly political, deeply personal.”

The Hollywood Reporter

“An eloquent record of and warning to a regime clinging to power at the expense of freedom.”

Sight & Sound

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Film Credits

Director

Mohammad Rasoulof

Year

2024

Country

IranGermany & France

Language

Farsi

Subtitles

English

Type

Feature & Fiction

Program Strand

World Cinema

Producer

Mohammad RasoulofAmin SadraeiJean-Christophe SimonMani Tilgner & Rozita Hendijanian

Writer

Mohammad Rasoulof

Cinematographer

Pooyan Aghababaei

Editor

Andrew Bird

Cast

Misagh ZareSoheila Golestani & Mahsa Rostami

Music

Karzan Mahmood

Film Source

Sharmill Films

Genre

DramaThriller & Western

Purchase Tickets

Friday 25 Oct 2024

07:00 pm

The Seed of the Sacred Fig

The Piccadilly:

The Piccadilly: Cinema 2

Saturday 2 Nov 2024

05:00 pm

The Seed of the Sacred Fig

The Piccadilly:

The Piccadilly: Cinema 3

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