An investigating judge grapples with paranoia amid political unrest in Tehran. When his gun vanishes, he suspects his wife and daughters, imposing extreme measures that strain family ties as societal rules crumble. A film by Mohammad Rasoulof (محمد رسولوف), starring Soheila Golestani (سهیلا گلستانی), Misagh Zare (میثاق زارع), Setareh Maleki (ستاره ملکی), and Mahsa Rostami (مهسا رستمی).
THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG
دانهی انجیر معابد
Mohammad Rasoulof
(2024)
Ficus Religiosa is a tree with an unusual life cycle. Its seeds, contained in bird droppings, fall on other trees. Aerial roots spring up and grow down to the floor. Then, the branches wrap around the host tree and strangle it. Finally, the sacred fig stands on its own.
After Iman (Misagh Zare) is appointed as an investigating judge in Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, he receives a handgun for protection. His wife Najmeh (Soheila Golestani) is proud of his career advancement, which promises them a three-bedroom apartment for their teenage daughters. When Iman shows Najmeh his assigned weapon, she is startled and appears nervous, questioning why he needs it. Iman explains that the gun is provided for their protection. Najmeh believes their children should know about Iman’s career. However, Iman is hesitant due to the Revolutionary Court’s unpopularity among citizens. Najmeh suggests celebrating his promotion at a restaurant, where they can discuss his career with their daughters together.
During a family dinner at a restaurant, Iman tells his daughters Rezvan (Mahsa Rostami) and Sana (Setareh Maleki) about his new role as an investigating judge. Najmeh explains that such judges must remain anonymous to protect themselves and their families. Iman adds that convicted individuals might seek revenge, believing their sentences were unjust. Najmeh emphasizes that both Rezvan and Sana must now be more cautious in their daily lives.
At work, Iman encounters a troubling situation when he receives case files with instructions from the prosecutor to write and sign indictments without review. His superior, Ghaderi (Reza Akhlaghirad), reveals that Iman’s promotion came through his recommendation, despite the boss’s dislike for Iman. Ghaderi warns that the boss is looking for any excuse to fire Iman. Under pressure, Iman faces a critical decision when ordered to sign a death penalty indictment without examining evidence — the same document his predecessor refused to sign, resulting in their dismissal.
During nationwide political protests against the government, riots erupt, causing extensive damage to public property and businesses. In the chaos, Rezvan’s friend Sadaf (Niousha Akhshi) is shot in the face. Rezvan brings her to their apartment, where Najmeh treats the wound before sending Sadaf away by taxi. Najmeh wants no involvement and insists on keeping Sadaf’s visit secret, especially from Iman.
Iman is feeling overwhelmed by the countless arrests he has to manage, forced to make rapid decisions on up to 300 cases per day with only minutes for each. At dinner, he clashes with Rezvan over a case involving a teenager allegedly killed in custody for improper hijab wear. Rezvan accuses her father of disregarding truth in favor of blind adherence to God’s orders and the laws of the country.
The next day, Iman discovers his gun is missing from his drawer. Though Najmeh suggests he might have left it at court due to his preoccupation with cases, Iman suspects someone in his family took the gun and is lying about it. Iman confides in Ghaderi, who suggests that Iman should wait a few days; the gun might turn up. However, Ghaderi also warns that if the gun is not found, Iman could face six months to three years in jail. Even worse, he risks being discredited for failing to keep his weapon secure. It’s imperative that Iman finds the gun.
Written and directed by Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, The Seed of the Sacred Fig is a political thriller that centers on Iman, an investigating judge in the Revolutionary Court in Tehran. As nationwide political protests intensify, Iman grapples with feelings of mistrust and paranoia, compounded by the mysterious disappearance of his gun.
I like how the film incorporates actual footage of riots, particularly those related to the protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022. By utilizing clips from cell phone videos that capture real events, the film adds a powerful and urgent dimension to the narrative, enhancing both its emotional impact and authenticity.
Mahsa Amini was a 22-year-old Iranian woman preparing to begin her university studies in biology when her life was tragically cut short. On 13 September 2022, Amini was arrested by Iran’s morality police, known as the Gasht-e Ershad, for allegedly not adhering to the country’s strict hijab regulations. Eyewitnesses reported that she was severely beaten during her arrest. After collapsing at the police station, she fell into a coma and was taken to a hospital, where she died three days later on 16 September 2022. The Iranian authorities claimed she suffered a heart attack; however, many believe her death resulted from police brutality. Amini’s death sparked widespread protests across Iran, igniting a movement against the regime’s oppressive policies regarding women’s rights and personal freedoms.
However, the pacing is quite slow, taking over an hour to establish family dynamics and introduce several interesting subplots that are ultimately disregarded when the film shifts into a detective thriller focused on the search for a missing gun.
Initially, the film is thrilling to watch because the plot is filled with ambiguity, much like a good detective story. It never shows how or when the gun goes missing, leaving both Iman and the viewers in the dark about who took it. Each of the three prime suspects has the potential to be the thief, but their motives remain questionable and unconvincing, even after the film reveals the identity of the person who took the gun.
I suspect that it must be one of the girls, but I can’t comprehend why she would go to such lengths without confessing her crime. Why would she want to torture her parents like an ungrateful brat? And why does everyone else want to protect her? It’s all very puzzling to me.
THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG premiered at Festival de Cannes on 24 May 2024 where it won the Special Prize (Prix spécial). The film was theatrically released in France on 18 September 2024, and in Germany on 26 December.
The Special Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, known as the Prix spécial du Jury, is an award that recognizes exceptional films that may not fit into the main competitive categories. This prize is not awarded annually but is given at the discretion of the festival’s jury, typically to highlight a film’s unique qualities or artistic merit that deserves special acknowledgment. The Prix spécial du Jury was first introduced in 1951 and has since been awarded sporadically. Its purpose is to honor films that embody originality and creativity, often those that challenge conventional storytelling or cinematic norms. The award has evolved over time; while it was more common in earlier decades, it has become less frequent in recent years.
