By Sophie Perrins, Photo Editor
The most recent Academy Award winner for Best International Film, The Seed of a Sacred Fig, is an outstandingly beautiful and deeply meaningful film well worth your attention if you can spare 167 minutes of your time. A suspenseful drama, the film explores themes of political unrest, feminism, and censorship through the lens of Iranian women in modern times.
The movie takes place in Iran, where the film’s director and several of its actors and actresses have faced prison time for their support of the ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ protest movement, which was ignited by Mahsa (Jina) Amini’s death while in police custody for disobeying Iran’s hijab law. The police declared the beaten 22 year old died of “natural causes.” The protests for the movement claimed the lives of an estimated 551 people, including 68 children and 49 women.
The director, Mohammad Rasoulof, made this film largely in secret in 2023, carrying both the real script and a fake one with Iranian-approved messaging for filming in public in case they were questioned.
During a brief break from Iran’s curfew after the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, most of the cast was able to flee the country. However, lead actress Soheila Golestani, who plays Najmeh (the mother in the film), was undergoing emergency surgery and is now on trial. Charged with “spreading corruption on earth and propaganda against the regime” by the Iranian government, Golestani is facing a year in prison and 74 lashes.
This punishment is known to cause permanent injury/disfigurement, internal bleeding and potentially even death. This isn’t the first time Golestani has been jailed for political reasons; just two years ago, Golestani was jailed in Evin Prison, a violent facility to house Iran’s political prisoners, for posting a video of her removing her hijab on camera.
Rasoulof credits the women involved with this project for providing resilience and courage to finish. The film has since received many awards, including the aforementioned Oscar win for Best International Feature Film, and the Jury Special Award at the 2024 Festival de Cannes.
The film’s plot grapples with loyalty being pulled in different directions, after Iman (the father), played by Misagh Zare, gets promoted to be an investigator for the revolutionary court as protests are breaking out. Real footage of this conflict censored by the Iranian government is shown throughout the movie, pointing out the discrepancy between the perpetrated narrative and the truth.
The family, torn apart by psychological warfare over a missing gun and the consequences of an authoritative regime, embark in high speed car chases, interrogations, and violence. Throughout the film Rasoulof highlights generational differences on policies and how phones have changed the way information can spread.
The film builds somewhat slowly, starting out as a relatable family drama that erupts into action in the third act. Complex characters invoke a compelling story complemented by stunning imagery, making this film a must-watch.
The Seed of the Sacred Fig is a warning to the authoritative regime, as the fig tree serves as a metaphor for the strangulation of Iranian freedoms. This film builds emotions with a looming sense of doom and leaves you with a message of hope. The images will stay with you and the political impact continues to this day, with the cast and crew unable to return to their homeland while Soheila Golestani is still unable to leave her imprisonment simply for her performance in the film.
You can rent this movie for $5.99 on several platforms including Apple TV and Fandango.
