The Seeds of the Sacred Fig, is a unique political drama which takes place in the heart of an Iranian family, submerged by recent events and deep tensions.
At the Oscars, this year, many incredible films have been presented. Especially in the category “Best International Feature Film”, where I have picked my personal favourite : The Seed of the Sacred Fig. Directed by the Iranian director, Mohammad Rasoulof, the winning picture of the Cannes Festival Special Jury Prize, it is a mind-blowing story about women’s status in Iran.
Synopsis
In 2022, Iman, father of an Iranian family, living Teheran, is promoted to the position of investigator at the Revolutionary Court. Unfortunately, this promotion coincides with the death of a female protestor, leading to multiple protests, forcing him to be left constantly occupied. Further on, the gun that the institution entrusted him, becomes the start of many problems..
A family’s home, mirror of Iranian society
In this feature film, we discover, through the eyes of an Iranian family living in Teheran, the period when feminist demonstrations increased following the brutal death of Mahsa Amini. Most of the scenes take place in the family’s flat, in the capital centre, except for the last part of the story. Here is where the director succeeds the art of showing us the conditions Iranian women live in. This is done with a script, which is essentially focused on events taking place in the home. This acts as an open window for viewers on the failings of this patriarchal society, based on religion regarding many topics.
A censored harsh reality
On the one hand, Iman’s daughters, Rezvan and Sana, who secretly support the movement, the social networks (particularly TikTok) are an open door to the harsh realities of the protests. They are able to witness the large number of acts of violence perpetrated against the ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ activists’ movement. The police forces do not hesitate at any given moment to be extremely aggressive towards these women, who are proclaiming greater freedoms and, in some cases, not wearing their veils as requird by law. Unfortunately, this costs the life of one of the female activists : Mahsa Amini.
However, the Iranian government diffused a different version of the events, far from the one reported in the videos posted on the Internet. Often in front of the television set, Najmeh, the mother, is the first to be exposed to these allegations made by the state. Their mother only realises the true extent of the brutality, when one of her daughters’ friends are “blocked” in the middle of a university protest, where she us seriously injured. Unable to be treated in hospital, Najmeh is shown in a harrowing scene, removing one by one, with tweezers, the bullets that have marred her disfigured face, and then consequently hiding them from her husband. This passage will serve to
highlight the spirit of solidarity between these women, but above all this extreme censored violence committed by the Iranian government.
Tension in fast-motion
After his promotion to investigative judge at Tehran’s revolutionary court, Iman is no longer as present for his family, overwhelmed by the recent events which have shaken the country. On the other hand, his wife, due to the political context, demands her daughters to be above reproach, fearing they will cause tension the few times her husband is around the home. The mother always tries to hide anything that might ‘upset’ him. This aspect of their new life is a direct reflection of the emancipation and freedom of expression (not so) held by the female part of the Iranian population.
However, it is when Iman’s weapon mysteriously disappears, that the film takes a real turn in its narrative. Now under threat, Iman is gripped by an unprecedented paranoia, causing him to completely lose faith with anyone, including his wife and daughters’ Najmeh, Sana and Rezvan. The tension had never been so high. The three women are blocked by Iman’s feelings, and their ability to do anything about it, is greatly limited by their gender and forced powerlessness. This family will be put to the test through a series of unprecedented events, that will change the course of their lives forever.
The Final Cut
Ultimately, the breathtaking movie shows us that in order to plant the grains of success for gender equality, female solidarity is serves as the primary solution.
Elisa Quesada Walmsley