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TRENDING
Aug. 30, 2024
Germany Selects The Seed of the Sacred Fig
The drama by the Iranian filmmaker won two awards at Cannes.
Germany - Germany
has chosen Mohammad Rasoulof’s film, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, as its
official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the
97th Academy Awards in 2025. This marks a significant milestone as it is the
first time an Iranian film has been selected by Germany for the Oscars.
The Seed of the Sacred Fig is a
political thriller inspired by the Woman Life Freedom pro-democracy protests
that swept Iran in September 2022, following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa
Amini. The film blends fiction with real footage of the demonstrations,
providing a stark portrayal of the Iranian regime’s oppressive measures. The
story centers on Iman, a devout man promoted to an investigating judge at the
Revolutionary Court in Tehran just as the protests erupt3. As the state
intensifies its crackdown, Iman sides with the regime, causing turmoil within
his family as his daughters become involved in the protests and his wife
struggles to keep the family together.
Rasoulof, who fled Iran in 2023 due to threats of
imprisonment and flogging, has been living in Germany since. His film premiered
at the Cannes Film Festival, where it received multiple awards, including the
Special Jury Prize and the FIPRESCI Prize. The film has also been shortlisted
for the European Film Award and has garnered acclaim at various international
film festivals.
The selection of The Seed of the Sacred Fig by
an independent jury of experts appointed by German Films highlights the film’s
powerful narrative and Rasoulof’s masterful direction. The jury praised the
film for its psychological depth and its portrayal of the cracks within Iranian
society and family structures4. Rasoulof and his producers expressed their deep
honour at the selection, emphasizing the film’s message of hope and resistance.
This submission not only underscores Germany’s support
for Rasoulof’s work but also brings global attention to the ongoing struggles
in Iran, making The Seed of the Sacred Fig a strong contender for the Oscars.
