A drama movie from 2024 called “THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG” (Persian: دانهٌ انجیر ىعابد) was written and directed by Mohammad Rasoulof. This powerful and moving story is about an Iranian family whose life falls apart when they find out the truth about their father’s job. Iman, an investigating judge in Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, struggles with mistrust and anxiety as political protests across the country get worse and his gun goes missing for no clear reason. But is this interesting story based on real events?
IS THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG TREE BASED ON A TRUE STORY?
No, ‘THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG’ is not based on a true story or real events, but it is deeply inspired by the real and ongoing socio-political struggles within Iran. The movie shows the main points of the ongoing protests and the harsh actions taken by the Iranian government, showing how many Iranians are currently struggling.
The movie is mostly about Iman, played by Missagh Zare, a man who seems nice but signs death orders for the Iranian government as his job. His life goes completely crazy when a young man tells everyone about his job with his girls. This news sets off a chain of events that make Iman’s name public online, which is very dangerous for his family.
Iman, who used to seem calm and gentle, has to do terrible things to protect his family from the liberal rebels who are after him. His wife, Najmeh (Soheila Golestani), didn’t know what his job entailed at first and is now having a hard time keeping things normal as things get worse. Rezvan (Mahsa Rostami) and Sana (Setareh Maleki), their girls, start to question their father’s authority and the values he forces them to follow. Sana in particular is more rebellious.
Even though Rasoulof’s movie is fictional, it shows how hard life is under Iran’s theocratic government. The main idea of a gun, which stands for power and violence, sets the tone for the exciting parts of the story. When the movie starts, there is a tense scene with bullets and a revolver. This is quickly followed by scenes of stress in Iman’s home.
In real life, people in Iran have taken to the streets to demand freedom and justice, which is similar to how the movie shows government oppression and personal turmoil. The things that happen to the characters in “THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG” show how people all over the world are fighting against a government that uses harsh methods to keep power.
The author’s own experiences make “THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG” feel more real and important. Racoulof has been severely punished for his work because he has been critical of the Iranian government. The film had its world premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 24, 2024. It was chosen to compete for the Palme d’Or and won a Special Jury Prize. Before the movie’s premiere, Rasoulof was given an eight-year prison term by the Iranian government. He was able to get away to Germany and walk the red carpet at Cannes. Even though he was going to jail for his movies, he kept making “THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG,” which shows how much he wanted to bring attention to the plight of the Iranian people.
Mohammad Rasoulof has expressed his motivation for making films despite facing challenges in Iran. He stated that his decision to leave Iran was driven by the desire to continue telling the stories of his land. He emphasized that Iran is still inside him, and he can still convey Iranian stories to the rest of the world.
The title, “THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG,” is a sign. The holy fig tree, which spreads its seeds to other trees and eventually takes over them, stands for the younger generation’s fight to get away from the system that controls them and find their own identity. This metaphor drives home the movie’s main idea of conflict between generations and ideologies. Young women like Rezvan and Sana are signs of hope for a world without oppression. They fought back against their father’s strict rules and were determined to find their own way.
“THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG” is not based on real events or struggles in Iran, but it has strong connections to those events and struggles. Rasoulof’s picture is a strong comment on the ongoing fight for freedom and justice in Iran. It shows how urgent and heated the political and social situation is right now.
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