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.
The Seed of the Sacred Fig
Director
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
Film Credits
Director
Mohammad Rasoulof
Year
2024
Country
Iran, Germany & France
Language
Farsi
Subtitles
English
Type
Feature & Fiction
Program Strand
World Cinema
Producer
Mohammad Rasoulof, Amin Sadraei, Jean-Christophe Simon, Mani Tilgner & Rozita Hendijanian
Writer
Mohammad Rasoulof
Cinematographer
Pooyan Aghababaei
Editor
Andrew Bird
Cast
Misagh Zare, Soheila Golestani & Mahsa Rostami
Music
Karzan Mahmood
Film Source
Sharmill Films
Genre
Drama, Thriller & 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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