The Seed of the Sacred Fig
| The Seed of the Sacred Fig | |
|---|---|
| Persian | دانهی انجیر معابد |
| Directed by | Mohammad Rasoulof |
| Written by | Mohammad Rasoulof |
| Produced by | Mohammad Rasoulof Rozita Hendijanian Amin Sadraei Jean-Christophe Simon Mani Tilgner |
| Starring | Soheila Golestani Missagh Zareh Mahsa Rostami Setareh Maleki |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by |
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Release date |
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Running time | 168 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Language | Persian |
The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Persian: دانهی انجیر معابد) is an upcoming drama film written and directed by Mohammad Rasoulof.
The film was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, where it is set to premiere on 24 May 2024.[1]
Background[edit]
The Seed of the Sacred Fig is the tenth directorial work by Mohammad Rasoulof. In the past, he had repeatedly violated Iranian censorship regulations with his films and was given three prison sentences as well as bans on working and leaving the country. In 2020, his film There Is No Evil won the top prize at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival, where it was awarded in his absence.[2]
Rasoulof was originally scheduled to take part in the 2023 Cannes Film Festival as a jury member of the Un Certain Regard section. However, he was arrested in July 2022 after criticising the government's crackdown on protestors in the southwestern city of Abadan over deadly building collapse. He was temporarily released from prison in February 2023 due to his health. Rasoulof was later pardoned and sentenced to a year in prison and a two-year ban on leaving Iran for "propaganda against the regime."[3]
Following Cannes selection announcement, the cast and crew were interrogated by Iranian authorities, banned from leaving the country, and pressured to convince Rasoulof to withdraw the film from the festival line-up.[4][5][6] On 8 May 2024, Rasoulof's lawyer announced that the director has been sentenced to eight years in prison as well as flogging, a fine and confiscation of his property.[7][8]
Shortly after, Rasoulof, and some crew members, managed to flee from Iran to Europe, and will attend the film's red carpet on 24 May 2024.[9]
Plot[edit]
The story centers on Iman, an investigating judge in the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, who grapples with mistrust and paranoia as nationwide political protests intensify and his gun mysteriously disappears.[10]
Cast[edit]
- Soheila Golestani
- Missagh Zareh
- Mahsa Rostami
- Setareh Maleki
Release[edit]
The Seed of the Sacred Fig was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it will have its world premiere on 24 May 2024.[11]
Accolades[edit]
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cannes Film Festival | 25 May 2024 | Palme d'Or | Mohammad Rasoulof | Pending | [12] |
References[edit]
- ^ "The Seed of the Sacred Fig by Mohammad Rasoulof, in official competition at Cannes Festival 2024". www.sortiraparis.com. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ Keslassy, Elsa (22 April 2024). "Cannes Film Festival Adds Michel Hazanavicius, Mohammad Rasoulof Movies to Competition Lineup (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ Bergeson, Samantha (22 April 2024). "Mohammad Rasoulof Sets Cannes Return with 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig' — Though Whether He'll Be There in Person Is Unclear". IndieWire. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ "Iranian authorities ban film crew from attending Cannes Film Festival". euronews. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ "Cannes: Iranian Authorities Pressuring 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig' Director to Withdraw Film from Competition". World of Reel. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ Rosser, Michael (1 May 2024). "Iran bans actors, crew of Mohammed Rasoulof's 'The Seed Of The Sacred Fig' from attending Cannes". Screen International. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ "Iranian Authorities Sentence 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig' Director to 8 Years in Prison and Flogging". World of Reel. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (8 May 2024). "Mohammad Rasoulof Sentenced To Eight Years In Prison, Flogging & Confiscation Of Property, Says Lawyer". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ Chrisafis, Angelique; Shoard, Catherine (13 May 2024). "Iranian film director Mohammad Rasoulof flees Iran to avoid prison". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ Rosser2024-05-03T11:54:00+01:00, Michael. "Films Boutique boards Mohammad Rasoulof's Cannes title 'The Seed Of The Sacred Fig' (exclusive)". Screen. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "The Screenings Guide of the 77th Festival de Cannes". Festival de Cannes. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (22 April 2024). "Oliver Stone, Lou Ye, Michel Hazanavicius Films & 'The Count Of Monte Cristo' Among New Titles Added To Cannes 2024 Official Selection". Deadline. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
External links[edit]
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