A One Mann’s Movies review of “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” (2024).
Original title: Dâne-ye anjîr-e ma’âbed
A caption at the start of the film discloses that this film was made in secret. And you can see why. The Iranian authorities have not reacted well to it, sentencing the director Mohammad Rasoulof to 8 years in prison (he had to flee the country). They also promised retribution on the cast and crew who remain in Iran. The fact that the film is now Oscar nominated might, hopefully, temper their response. But when Iran is concerned, I wouldn’t bet on it.
The title derives from a seed that floats in the air until it finds a host tree to attach itself to. The germinated seed then issues roots down to the ground and around the tree so tightly that the host tree dies, leaving only the new fig tree left. The metaphor symbolizes the oppressive Iranian regime which, like the fig tree, gradually enmeshes and controls individuals and society, essentially “strangling” their freedoms and dissent.
This is an extremely powerful and gripping study of the life of one ordinary family put under extraordinary conditions during the social eruption following the (real life) sudden death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
“The Seed of the Sacred Fig” Plot Summary:
Father of two Iman ((Missagh Zareh) gets a promotion into the judiciary of Iran’s Revolutionary Court. But he finds that the elevation comes with stress and danger to his family.
Certification:
UK: 15; US: PG-13. (From the BBFC web site: “Strong injury detail, threat, distressing scenes, domestic abuse”. (I very much expected the MPAA to give this film an R certificate: it has some very strong stuff in it for a PG-13. US viewers be aware!)
Talent:
Starring: Soheila Golestani, Missagh Zareh, Setareh Maleki, Mahsa Rostami, Reza Akhlaghirad, Shiva Ordooie.
Directed by: Mohammad Rasoulof.
Written by: Mohammad Rasoulof.
Running Time: 2h 47m.
“The Seed of the Sacred Fig” Summary:
Positives:
- A wonderful screenplay that sets up a tense family drama.
- A brilliant acting ensemble from the four key family members. Soheila Golestani is almost as good as the Oscar-moninated Fernanda Torres (in a very similar role).
- A surprising finale.
Negatives:
- Perhaps the end of the film verges a tad into the histrionic. It only just stays the right side of “Eastenders” melodrama.
Review of “The Seed of the Sacred Fig”:
A promotion that comes with added stress.
I guess many of us have received a promotion at work and been delighted by it. But then you find “oh, I’m responsible for THIS now am I?” This is the position that Iman (Missagh Zareh) finds himself in at the start of this film. He is promoted to be an Investigator for Iran’s Revolutionary Courts. A wise and honourable man, he likes to spend his time reviewing his case files well before recommending a verdict up the chain. But as a time of crisis arrives, he is increasingly told what the sentence needs to be (often death) and this plays heavily on his mind.
The crisis arises from the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini and the uprising of many young people, and particularly young girls, against the restrictions on dress and behaviour insisted on by the Islamic regime. Iman and his wife Najmeh (Soheila Golestani) have two daughters: Rezvan (Mahsa Rostami) who is 21 and in college and her much younger sister Sana (Setareh Maleki) who is in her early teens. Obviously, their social media feeds are full of the details of the riot (the film has considerable phone video footage). But the family have to strictly control what they say for fear of bringing retribution from the mob on Iman because of the job he does.
It’s a BRILLIANT premise for a film and executed to perfection by Mohammad Rasoulof.
Some memorable scenes.
The film is beautifully shot by cinematographer Pooyan Aghababaei with lots of close up shots of worried eyes and (later in the film) wide-open vistas of the Iranian countryside. One particularly memorable moment is when Najmeh drops a handful of bloodied buckshot into a white basin, the buckshot bouncing bloodily on the porcelein. Cinematically speaking, it’s a “wow” moment.
An acting tour de force.
The four principals: Soheila Golestani, Missagh Zareh, Mahsa Rostami and Setareh Maleki do a fantastic job portraying the stressed family. Golestani in particular expresses an intensity of passion and fear as things go from bad to worse that reminded me of Fernanda Torres’s Oscar-nominated performance in “I’m Still Here“. And Missagh Zareh as Iman does brilliantly in going from loving family man to the face of the oppressive regime that he so despises helping. It’s like the acid blood in Alien: the acidity of the revolution outside of the family is melting through the family bonds and seeping into every facet of their lives.
Talking of “I’m Still Here”
There are actually quite a number of similarities here between this movie and the Brazilian Oscar-nominated Best Picture. Both are set in a period of authoritarian state-rule; both involve the ‘disappearance’ of countless people from the streets; and both involve the disintegration of a family unit under those intense pressures. I hate to alienate an army of Brazilian fans, but I rather think that “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” is a better and more rounded film: it certainly has more of a satisfying story arc.
A dramatic finale
The film is really in two distinct parts: a very tense and claustrophobic Tehran segment, mostly based in the family’s small apartment; then a segment where the family flee to Iman’s home village. Both are very much different in tone. The former part is more psychological thriller; the lastter part is thriller thriller! The ending, while being very exciting and surprising, tends to veer a little bit into the over-melodramatic. But, to be honest, it’s a minor quibble.
Summary Thoughts on “The Seed of the Sacred Fig”
If you are one of those cinemagoers who see the word “subtitle” and run a mile, then you are really missing some great films. (And, yes, I know this might be a non-starter for anyone with reading disabilities… you are obviously forgiven.) But “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” is a good example of a subtitled film that really grips your emotions like a vice and won’t let go. Yes, it’s a few minutes short of three hours (and yes, bladder reading was 99.5% by the end!). But it really didn’t feel like a 3 hour film, given how engrossing it was.
Where to Watch it (Powered by Justwatch)
Trailer for “The Seed of the Sacred Fig”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3P53zHCPJU.
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