The Seed Of The Sacred Fig - NBFF 2024

Farhang Foundation is proud to partner
with the Newport Beach Film Festival
in presenting the Orange County premiere for

The Seed Of The Sacred Fig

A Film by Mohammad Rasoulof

Oct 24, 7:30pm

In Persian with English subtitles

New Port Theater

Starring:
Mahsa Rostami
Setareh Maleki
Niousha Akhshi
Missagh Zareh
Soheila Golestani

Seed poster

Set against the backdrop of political turmoil in Tehran, The Seed of the Sacred Fig follows Investigating Judge Iman as he descends into paranoia when his gun mysteriously disappears. Already struggling with the weight of his role in a fractured society, Iman’s suspicions turn inward, casting a dark shadow over his once close-knit family. Convinced that his wife and daughters may be conspiring against him, he imposes extreme measures within his home, mirroring the oppressive control he enforces professionally. As societal norms dissolve around him, Iman’s paranoia further isolates him, pushing his family to a breaking point and leading to a powerful exploration of trust, control, and the personal cost of political decay. Rasoulof’s award-winning film captures the haunting effects of state corruption on intimate relationships, blending tense drama with stark social commentary.

Director: Mohammad Rasoulof

Writer: Mohammad Rasoulof

Cast/Featuring: Soheila Golestani, Missagh Zareh, Mahsa Rostami, Setareh Maleki, Niousha Akhshi, Amineh Arani

Producers: Mohammad Rasoulof, Rozita Hendijanian, Amin Sadraei, Jean-Christophe Simon, Mani Tilgner

Cinematography: Pooyan Aghababaei

Editor: Andrew Bird

Music: Karzan Mahmood

Year: 2024

Running Time: 168 minutes

Countries: Iran, Germany, France

Languages: Persian

About Mohammad Rasoulof

Mohammad Rasoulof is an acclaimed Iranian filmmaker celebrated for his unflinching examinations of social, political, and moral issues within Iran. Born in Shiraz in 1972, Rasoulof developed an early passion for cinema, though his career has been repeatedly obstructed by Iranian authorities due to the challenging, often politically charged nature of his films. Through works like Iron Island (2005) and Manuscripts Don’t Burn (2013), Rasoulof has crafted narratives that expose themes of oppression, corruption, and personal freedom, frequently clashing with state censors and resulting in the banning of his films within Iran.

In 2020, Rasoulof’s There Is No Evil won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, though he was forbidden from leaving Iran to accept the award. His vocal criticism of government repression ultimately led to his imprisonment in Iran—a fate faced by several Iranian filmmakers who dare to raise their voices. However, in a bold move, Rasoulof escaped the country in 2024 to attend the world premiere of his latest film, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, at the Cannes Film Festival, where the film was awarded the Special Jury Prize. His cinematic work has become a symbol of resistance, not only giving voice to those silenced within his homeland but also affirming his place as one of Iran’s most courageous and visionary auteurs on the global stage.