The Seed of the Sacred Fig
The Seed of the Sacred Fig
An investigating judge struggles with paranoia amid political unrest in Tehran caused by the death of a young woman. When his gun goes missing, he suspects his wife and daughters, imposing harsh measures that fray family ties.
Kevin Ward reviewedJuly 1, 2025
The Seed of the Sacred Fig begins with Iman’s long-awaited victory: a promotion to a prestigious, secretive position that he’s spent two decades striving toward. It’s a defining moment for his career and a chance to solidify his legacy. But this accomplishment comes at a cost. The demands of the role impose strict conditions on his family, requiring his wife, Najmeh, and daughters, Rezvan and Sana, to adopt a subdued, almost cloistered lifestyle, essentially giving up much of their public social freedoms to preserve Iman’s professional stability. What initially feels like a necessary adjustment soon turns into a pressure cooker, threatening to implode the family from within.
At the heart of this discord is Rezvan, a fiery, idealistic college student whose burgeoning activism puts her at odds with both her father and the patriarchal norms he represents. Rezvan’s frustrations become louder and more pointed as she watches her family retreat into a stifling shell of discretion. Meanwhile, Iman is torn between his loyalty to his job and the ethical compromises it demands. Tasked with fighting against social activists—individuals like his own daughter—Iman finds himself increasingly at odds with the values he once held dear.
The turning point arrives at an unforgettable family dinner. Long-simmering tensions erupt as Rezvan voices her disdain for Iman’s role in upholding the systems she seeks to dismantle. Najmeh, whose quiet strength has long been the glue holding the family together, finally releases years of pent-up frustration. Even Sana, the youngest and often overlooked, joins in the rebellion. The scene is a masterclass in emotional storytelling, with the family’s carefully maintained façade shattering in real time, setting the stage for an explosive final act.
The performances arereally excellent across the board and director Mohammad Rasoulof interweaves the family’s unraveling with the broader societal tensions in Iran, using real-life protest footage to blur the lines between fiction and reality, especially considering the risks Rasoulof and his team faced to bring it to life. Through Iman, Najmeh, Rezvan, and Sana, Rasoulof captures the deeply human cost of oppressive systems while issuing an urgent call for change.