The Seed of the Sacred Fig - Movie Review

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[neilc]

I think you guys missed the point of the film. The family was a metophor for the whole country. And the last scene of the father falling after the shot fired was fall of the regime who took his own family as the enemy.

[arooshah]

I am Iranian and want to add a few comments that may help
1) This movie was made in Iran right under the nose of Iranian security apparatus after brutal oppression of woman, life, freedom movement a couple of years ago. The director, as a known prosecuted artist (referred as undesirable element by supreme leader), was never on the set to divert sensitivity of security forces away from the set. He used only communication via two assistants to direct actors/actresses and the technical crew. All scenes outdoors were carefully designed not to raise suspicion of security forces.
2) Movie in fact is not directed at western audience. He in fact was so sure that he will be arrested and movie will never be released that he had more intellectual liberty to do what he wants "thinking it won't make a difference, it will all be confiscated, let me stay true to the concept at least".
3) Movie is not one sided, sometimes there is no other side to the truth. The other side is simply falsehood. Movie in fact is portraying a humane, family life, aspect of operators in a repressive theocratic regime that is exerting unspeakable atrocities towards its regular citizens. This has nothing to do with the west or western values, it is a brutally honest depiction of clash between "dogmatic faith" of religious old generation and "bright rebellious" new generation.
4) Names in the movie have crucial metaphorical importance. Father's name "Iman" literally means "faith" who despite his doubts eventually remains loyal to the oppressive regime and signs hundreds of indictments against young activists and justifies his own brutality by dehumanizing them "they just want to be naked and promiscuous referring to unveiling of protesting female students". He loves his daughters but in clash between faith and family he prosecutes and interrogates loved ones. Faith could be dogmatic indeed. 
5) Mother's name "Najmeh" literally means "star". She remains a glimmer of hope for her daughters and begrudgingly allows them to have a different friend. She remains loyal to her husband and wholeheartedly supports the dogmatic belief system until she realizes during interrogations (by a family friend) that no matter how loyal and innocent she and her daughters are, the state grinds them into worthless suspects with a whiff of a perceived threat.
3) Older daughter's name "Rezvan" means heaven and serenity. She is not confrontational with her parents but does not blindly follow them. She provides a peaceful safe corner for her friend and defends her friend's decency and righteousness against the establishment (father and interrogators).
4) Younger daughter's name "Sana" means "ray of light". She does not hesitate to challenge the dark secret reality of her dad's oppressive role in the judiciary. She is rebellious and wants to defeat dogmatic rules governing her life at home. She tries to lure her father back into "daddy" of several years ago but also ruthlessly defends her sister and mom against father who is not willing to switch sides.

[Yasmana]

An Iranian here: human rights, women rights, freedom of expression, religion, political beliefs etc are NOT western values alone. We in the middle east as equal humans to you deserve all the above values. Don't be so self centered!

[tinarashidi]

It’s not supposed to be a thriller, it’s a portrayal of the brutality of the regime. It was cleverly executed. It showed how brutal these people are and that they can turn on their own families. As an Iranian woman that lived there most of my life, I can tell you that it was an accurate representation of the situation.

[james_knight_]

I’m afraid the movie was better than your take on it.

[Cecezi]

You would have understand or feel connected to the film if you were an Iranian, so I don’t blame you that movie did disappoint you a little bit but for us Iranians was very well captured! the struggles, the slow story, the beliefs, … etc.

[nekola]

Interesting fact about the film and production. in an interview Rasoulof said that during shooting most of the film, he was not able to be present on the set. He was regularly being monitored by the intelligent agents and police and he didn't want to jeopardize the film. Most of the film was filmed with little to no permits. in Iran ALL movies must receive permit from city and Islamic officials, and there's always a team of governmental officials present on set to watch over the dialogues, visuals, and theme of movies. Censorship in Iran starts at the pre-production phase and carries until even after the release of movies!

[digrom]

Brother bro has some horrible takes in this

[MrArich]

I agree to an extent. Of course when making taking on an aritsitic endeavor like making a film, multiple perspectives offer variety and nuance to the viewers experience which makes it more enjoyable. BUT when you are actually living in the rough circumstance of the film everyday and the government is trying to prevent you from telling the truth, I can understand how the director might've felt that he has no room or time to play the fence. He chose a side and didn't waver, and I respect that.

[AmakaHubner-fnfu]

The most frustrating part of the criticisms I am hearing is that people wish the movie was more of an angle of self orientalization. How disgusting.

[therogue]

What? This isnt to educate the ones already gone (represented by the father) the paranoia that regimes like these cause can make people do the things the father does (i mean look at trumpies even) We see the descent into madness, it’s not jarring, it’s not one note, it’s the sad reality that many good people can turn into people like the father

[ezracampanelli]

Another great review! Once again I appreciate how you didn’t explicitly identify the themes or reveal things that are best experienced as surprises (even if they’re not specifically spoilers), especially with festival movies that haven’t been released theatrically yet. Shows that you can deliver a great review without diminishing the experience for the audience. Themes are best unpacked by the viewer without going into the movie knowing what to expect.

[maxpaynethehero]

How will it get International Film nomination if Iran is actively trying to block this movie? Aren’t the International Film nominees submitted by the native countries? France and Germany contributed so are we expecting either of them to submit this movie as their nominee for International Film Oscars nomination?

[samrizzardi]

Can someone tell me the titles of the songs Sana plays on the casette player?

[aminsameti]

Hey guys, long time watcher. As an Iranian let me tell you, this movie feels like it's tailored entirely to western audiences. Even some of the dialog sounds weird to me in persian until I realized the sentences were structured in a way that would be easier to write in a subtitle.
I also agree entirely with what you both said about it being one sided, which again as a person who has lived through some of the things that were shown in the movie, that one-sidedness kind of trivializes the actual struggle that is very real to some people. Thank you for pointing that out.

[piadox]

I just watched this and trying to two sides an movie that's a metaphor for an authoritarian regime is

[tennisCharlzz]

@theoscarexpert The still photos suggest interesting shot composition. What do you think?

[mrrekt]

Hey brother bro and Oscar expert, please review the upcoming sci-fi "The Assessment" starring Elizabeth Olsen and Alicia Vikander premiering today at TIFF.

[tinarashidi]

Maybe you should have invited an Iranian woman to discuss this movie with.

[ramooooon]

thank you!!! looking forward to seeing your review of Maria