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A woman stands in the foreground, two women stand behind her. They all look somewhat concerned.

The Seed of the Sacred Fig

  Mohammad Rasoulof

  Germany, Iran, France     168 minutes

Synopsis

Iman, an ambitious family man, receives an appointment to become an investigating judge in Iran’s Revolutionary Court. Such a professional step means major advancement for him, his wife, and his two independently minded teenage daughters. His rise is complicated, though, when nationwide student-fueled protests against the government cause violent unrest in the streets, forcing Iman to work overtime. When his handgun mysteriously goes missing, his nerves are strained to the breaking point.

Equal parts tension-fueled domestic drama and paranoid political thriller, the film offers an excoriating examination of an oppressive, patriarchal society about to reach a tipping point. Currently living in exile to avoid an eight-year prison sentence for his films’ criticism of Iran’s hardline conservative government, veteran auteur Mohammad Rasoulof (There Is No Evil, 2020) returns to the Festival with this exhilarating, timely work that rises to the urgency of the moment.

 Farsi with subtitles

In Focus: Germany on Screen

the flag of GermanyThis film is part of the 60th Chicago International Film Festival’s In Focus: Germany on Screen collection highlighting the work of Germany’s most gifted auteur filmmakers.

Learn more about this collection

Screenings & Events

Screening

Sun, Oct 20 @ 8:15pm CDT

at AMC NEWCITY 14, screen 04

Screening

Mon, Oct 21 @ 8:15pm CDT

at AMC NEWCITY 14, screen 01

Media

Film Credits

  •   Mohammad Rasoulof, Amin Sadraei, Jean-Christophe Simon, Mani Tilgner, Rozita Hendijanian
  •   Mohammad Rasoulof
  •   Andrew Bird
  •   Pooyan Aghababaei
  •   Misagh Zare, Soheila Golestani, Mahsa Rostami, Setareh Maleki, Niousha Akhshi, Reza Akhlaghi, Shiva Ordooei, Amineh Arani
  •   Karzan Mahmood
  •   Run Way Pictures

Sponsors

International Competition Program Patron

Jacolyn and John Bucksbaum Family Foundation

With Support From

Logo: German Film Office 141x125Logo: German Films - 315x100Logo: Goethe Institut 62x100