A film about power, morality, and family disintegration. Mohammad Rasoulof’s The Seed of the Sacred Fig portrays how political repression penetrates the very heart of society. Now and then, it overcomes me — usually creeping in in the morning, tightening its grip in the afternoon, and arriving in full force by evening — the longing for a truly great film. Anyone familiar with that feeling will know the small but nagging follow-up question: What should I watch? Lucky are those who have a Mubi subscription right now and haven’t yet seen Mohammad Rasoulof’s Oscar-nominated masterpiece The Seed of the Sacred Fig, which is currently available on the platform. Shot in utmost secrecy, the film tells the story of Iman (Missagh Zareh), a devout lawyer appointed as an investigating judge at the Revolutionary Court during the 2022 protests in Iran.
At first glance, it seems to be a promotion, but it quickly reveals a moral abyss. He is expected to sign off on death sentences without knowing the names or charges involved. While the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement gains strength outside, tensions rise within Iman’s family. His daughters, Rezvan (Mahsa Rostami) and Sana (Setareh Maleki), grow increasingly sympathetic to the protests, while his wife, Najmeh (Soheila Golestani), tries to hold the family together. When Iman’s service weapon goes missing, the already fragile family dynamic tips. Mistrust becomes suspicion. Control turns to violence. The family flees to the countryside, but even there, the pressure doesn’t ease. What unfolds is an intense chamber drama that exposes how authoritarian violence creeps into the most intimate spaces. Rasoulof uses deliberately sparse, powerful imagery to portray the inner disintegration of a man torn between power and guilt, faith and reality. The sacred fig symbolizes a regime whose roots reach into every aspect of life. The Seeds of the Sacred Fig captivates with outstanding performances and a keen visual sensibility. It’s real cinema and the perfect film for a cool summer night, when all you want is to sink into the sofa for three hours and let yourself be carried away by the sheer power of storytelling.
Text: Hilka Dirks / Stills: The Seed of the Sacred Fig
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The Seed of the Sacred Fig Tree
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