The Seed of the Sacred Fig
Gripping and suspenseful family drama about the tensions in the family of an investigating judge whose teenage daughters become involved in protests against the Iranian regime. Nominated for an Oscar for best international film.
Iman has recently been promoted to investigating judge at the revolutionary court in Tehran. His new position provides extra income and higher social status, but it also puts his family under a magnifying glass. Iman must keep his wife and teenage daughters in line. Meanwhile, thousands of Iranians take to the streets to protest against the regime and express their anger over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. Iman’s daughters become indirectly involved in the protests. When Iman’s service weapon goes missing, the paranoid judge suspects his own family and takes drastic measures.
The Seed of the Sacred Fig begins as a family drama, but transforms to a tense thriller in the second half. Director Mohammad Rasoulof (There Is No Evil, A Man of Integrity) has often been critical of the Iranian regime in his films. While earlier works sometimes veiled that criticism, The Seed of the Sacred Fig is a direct attack on the Iranian government. After being sentenced to eight years in prison, Rasoulof fled Iran in 2024 and now lives in exile in Germany.
The Seed Of The Sacred Fig premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and won several awards, including the Special Prize of the Jury and the FIPRESCI Prize from a panel of international film critics.