Seed of the Sacred Fig Parent Guide
Haunting and distressing, this film about life under the Iranian regime is flawed but courageous and unforgettable.
Parent Movie Review
After twenty years of service to Iran’s Revolutionary Court, Iman (Missagh Zareh) is gratified to be promoted to the position of investigating judge. His wife, Najmeh (Soheila Golestani) is delighted: the new job means a higher salary and a bigger apartment in a better neighborhood.
But in the repressive Iranian system, nothing comes without a price. When Iman is ordered to sign convictions and order the death sentence on cases he hasn’t even read, he grapples with his conscience and the competing demands of security and honor.
While Iman fights his internal battle, the country around him is plunged into chaos upon the death in police custody of a young woman (the real life Mahsa Amini). Protests fill the streets and Iman and Najmeh’s daughters, 20-year-old Rezvan (Mahsa Rostami) and teenager Sana (Setareh Maleki), quickly become caught up in the fervor of the protesters’ demands – and disenchanted with the brutal response of the regime. Arguments between Iman and his daughters ensue: this would be manageable but then his government-issued gun goes missing. The lost gun could not only cost Iman his career; it could also put him in prison for three years.
The search for the gun tears the family apart and forces Iman, Najmeh, and their daughters to consider their religious faith, their loyalty to the regime, and their feelings for each other. As fear, distrust, and paranoia dominate Iman’s perspective, the personalities of all family members are revealed – with tragic results.
The Seed of the Sacred Fig is a Cannes-award-winning movie; an achievement all the more impressive because it was filmed in secret over a 70 day period. In fact, director Mohammad Rasoulof was out of favor with Iran’s theocratic regime and after being convicted of criticizing the government, was forced to flee the country. Some of the cast and crew were able to escape, but others remain in Iran, still in peril. For courage alone, this movie stands out in the crowd.
It’s a brave movie, but also a flawed one. At almost three hours, it’s much too long and could use tighter editing. That said, it’s a powerful film with a chilling depiction of the costs of repression both to victims and perpetrators. Iman’s unflinching support for Iran’s brutal government makes it impossible for him to be open-minded about his daughters’ experiences and opinions or to acknowledge his own complicity in the regime’s violence. As he dispatches fellow citizens to their deaths, he also corrodes his own humanity.
Watching a family fracture is painful but it’s also believable thanks to the power of the cast. Special recognition goes to Soheila Golestani, whose portrayal of a devout woman torn between her fading trust in the system, her increasingly frayed devotion to her husband, and her anxious devotion to her daughters. It’s Najmeh around who the family revolves, and Ms. Golestani has the emotional depth to fully inhabit the role.
There’s an audience for The Seed of the Sacred Fig, but I don’t think it’s going to be a large one. The movie’s length and use of subtitles are a deterrent for mass audiences, but that won’t stop fans of serious dramas. This haunting film has a lot to say about authoritarian states, theocracy, religious fundamentalism, misogyny, and human rights, and it says it well. If a serious movie-with-a-message appeals to you, this could give you lots to think about for a long time afterwards.
Directed by Mohammad Rasouof. Starring Soheila Golestani, Missagh Zareh, Mahsa Rostami, Setareh Maleki. Running time: 167 minutes. Theatrical release January 10, 2025. Updated January 10, 2025
Watch the trailer for Seed of the Sacred Fig
Seed of the Sacred Fig
Rating & Content Info
Why is Seed of the Sacred Fig rated PG-13? Seed of the Sacred Fig is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for disturbing violent content, bloody images, thematic content, some language and smoking
Violence: A man drops bullets on a table. A man’s gun is often seen around the house. The death penalty is frequently discussed. Newsclips of protests show burning vehicles and people being beaten. Police beat people. People are seen with bloody injuries: there is extended footage of a young woman’s bloody facial injuries and her pain at first aid treatment. News footage of Mahsa Amini’s death is shown. Dead, bloody bodies are seen in newsclips. A young woman is blindfolded. A woman slaps her daughter’s face. A man drives recklessly and tries to force a car off the road. A man points a gun at people and has them tied up. People are locked up in rooms by their family members. Family members pull guns on each other. A man drags a woman by her hand and hair. A person dies in a building collapse.
Sexual Content:
Profanity: The script contains three terms of deity, a minor profanity, and a scatological curse. A slang term for breasts is used.
Alcohol / Drug Use: Adults occasionally smoke cigarettes.
Page last updated January 10, 2025
Seed of the Sacred Fig Parents' Guide
Mahsa Amini was a real person who died in police custody in Iran. Her death sparked massive protests. You can read more here:
Wikipedia: Mahsa Amini protests
BBC: Iran: A really simple guide to the protests
The movie title comes from ficus religiosa also known as the sacred fig. You can learn more about it here.
Iman sees himself as a man who lives with honor. What changes him? Do you think the divisions in his family existed before his new job or were they created by the changes in Iranian society? What role does the death of Mahsa Amini play in the fractures of his family? What decisions does Najmeh face? Why is she loyal to Iman and the regime? What ties her to her daughters? Why does she make the decisions she makes at the end of the film?
Home Video
Related home video titles:
The animated film Persepolis offers a painfully realistic look at growing up in Iran during the early days of the Iranian Revolution.
A couple debates the pros and cons of emigrating from Iran in the emotional film, A Separation.