When religion is associated with political power and patriarchy, it can destroy the most intimate relationships and the dignity of individuals, as this Iranian family drama embodies. The jury was impressed by the film’s rich symbolism, its generous and hopeful ending, its touches of humour and its heartbreaking tension. The subtlety and sobriety of its writing, both dramatic and filmic, make it a metaphor for any authoritarian theocracy.
Festivals
"The Seed of the Sacred Fig" by Mohammad Rasoulof received the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury in Cannes 2024 and won the Prize of the Jury of International Film Critics (Fipresci) as well. The Palme d'Or went to "Anora" by Sean Baker.