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The Seed of the Sacred Fig film image; woman stands with two women behind her

The Seed of the Sacred Fig

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Misagh Zare is Iman, a newly promoted “investigator” for the Iranian government in the early days of the Women, Life, Freedom rebellion. Iman’s handgun goes missing, and it could only have been taken by one of his family members. His wife Najmeh (Soheila Golestani) proclaims innocence, as do his daughters Rezvan (Mahsa Rostami) and Sana (Setareh Maleki). As the strife in the streets ratchets up, so do Iman’s anger and paranoia. With every passing moment, the women in his life grow more afraid—and yet none of them will confess…

The latest from Mohammad Rasoulof (There Is No Evil; A Man of Integrity) is a gripping metaphorical drama that triumphs on multiple levels: as a mystery, it’s tense and absorbing; as a portrait of family division, it’s moving; and as an act of political protest, it’s urgent and powerful. A subversive to his core, Rasoulof has paid a price for his art: sentenced to eight years in prison plus flogging, he now lives as an exile in Europe.

Director

Mohammad Rasoulof

Cast

Misagh Zare, Soheila Golestani, Mahsa Rostami, Setareh Maleki, Niousha Akhshi, Reza Akhlaghi

Credits
Country of Origin

Iran/France/Germany

Year

2024

Language

In Farsi with English subtitles

Awards

Special Prize, Cannes 2024; FIPRESCI Prize, Cannes 2024

Nominated: Best International Feature, Academy Awards

19+
167 min
Run Way Pictures

Book Tickets

Saturday January 25

7:30 pm
Hearing Assistance Subtitles
VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre
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Sunday January 26

1:00 pm
Hearing Assistance Subtitles
VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre
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Monday January 27

4:00 pm
Hearing Assistance Subtitles
VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema
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Tuesday January 28

8:30 pm
Hearing Assistance Subtitles
VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema
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Wednesday January 29

2:30 pm
Hearing Assistance Subtitles
VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema
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8:30 pm
Hearing Assistance Subtitles
VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema
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Thursday January 30

12:30 pm
Hearing Assistance Subtitles
VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema
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Friday January 31

5:00 pm
Hearing Assistance Subtitles
VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre
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Sunday February 02

4:00 pm
Hearing Assistance Subtitles
VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema
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Saturday February 08

3:00 pm
Hearing Assistance Subtitles
VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre
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Credits

Producer

Mohammad Rasoulof, Amin Sadraei, Jean-Christophe Simon, Mani Tilgner, Rozita Hendijanian

Screenwriter

Mohammad Rasoulof

Cinematography

Pooyan Aghababaei

Editor

Andrew Bird

Production Design

Amir Panahifar

Original Music

Karzan Mahmood

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