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1 Feb 2025

The Seed of the Sacred Fig – Oscar-nominated film that forced its makers to flee Iran

The Seed of The Sacred Fig is a film but also an act of resistance. Filmed in secret in Tehran, it’s about a newly-promoted state investigating judge, whose family is torn apart by the protests following the death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.

The film won the special jury prize at Cannes and an Oscar nomination. But it also earned its director, Mohammad Rasoulof, an eight year jail sentence.

Rasoulof and many of the cast and crew managed to flee Iran – though not the actress who played the mother. But he refuses to be silenced.

Krishnan Guru-Murthy spoke to him about the film.

Mohammad Rasoulof: The film is about surrender. It’s about the people who work in authoritarian systems, who have human characteristics and features, but become part of the machinery of suppression.

Krishnan Guru-Murthy: Did you realise that you would have to leave your country when you were making this film?

Mohammad Rasoulof: It is not easy for me to accept the victim role. And so I needed to find a way to be able to continue my work. The beauty of the story is that my freedom came from prison, because it was in prison that I got to know the people who said, ‘If you decide to leave Iran one day let us know, we can help you.’ We had met in prison and they helped me to leave Iran on foot through the mountains.

Krishnan Guru-Murthy: Most of the stars have managed to get out as well. But the woman who plays the mother is still in Iran. In what danger is she in now?

Mohammad Rasoulof: Well at first she came under a lot of pressure. Interrogation, court, various investigations. A court hearing has now taken place and we’re waiting for the verdict. This could lead to years in prison.

Krishnan Guru-Murthy: How did you actually manage to make this film in outside locations, without being detected by the authorities?

Mohammad Rasoulof: A funny thing was that the story of the film involves a religious family which at a glance looks very much like the families shown in state television programmes. So when people saw the group at work they assumed it was a state project and people started swearing at the actors, saying ‘Shame on you for working with the regime.’

Krishnan Guru-Murthy: I was in Iran last year and I met some young women who were very brave. And the characters in your film, the two girls, reminded me very much of the women I had met. Do you think ultimately they will win?

Mohammad Rasoulof: I am confident that particularly the younger generation believes in this movement and actually this movement is not confined to feminist demands. Many of the demands relate to human rights, and this movement is not confined to women either. There are many men who consider themselves a part of the women’s movement in Iran. It’s these aspects which I think will mean the movement will definitely succeed.