The Seed of the Sacred Fig (2024)

BLU-RAY CASE/ SIDE

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Length of film:  167 Minutes (Edited: 160 Minutes)

Rated: 15

Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller

Director: Mohammad Rasoulof

Starring: Soheila Golestani, Missagh Zareh, Setareh Maleki, Mahsa Rostami, Niousha Akhshi, Reza Akhlaghirad

IMDB Rank: 7.6 /10

Part 1 Time:  78 Minutes (Edited: 75 Minutes)

Part 2 Time:  89 Minutes (Edited: 85 Minutes)

Where does the first part end? The family eats dinner together. Following an argument with his daughter Rezvan (Mahsa Rostami), Iman (Missagh Zareh) leaves table followed by his wife Najmeh (Soheila Golestani).

Final line of dialogue on the first part:  Najmeh speaks to Rezvan; “For once we were having a family dinner, you ruined it.”

First line of dialogue on the second part: “Iman, Iman,” Najmeh states as she tries to wake Iman in the middle of the night.

How jarring is it when the first part ends? Somewhat, with the stress of his job, the ongoing political protests in Tehran, and his gun now missing, Iman is beginning to distrust his family. What lengths will Iman take with his family to uncover the whereabouts of his missing gun?

Which part is better? The entire film is quite impressive detailing the oppressive and tyrannical atmosphere faced by those living in Iran. The first part of the film focuses on the family trying to maintain the status quo in the midst of the Mahsa Amini protests. Rezvan begins to question some actions taken by the Iranian government and the daily customs the Iranian peoples need to adhere to (i.e., wearing a hijab). Part two changes the film’s plot focus becoming less of a drama and more as a thriller as Iman loses his gun and suspects one of his family members has stolen it. Part two is significantly better as Iman’s character becomes an increasingly more villainous antagonist as he puts tremendous strain on his family members.

Academy Awards: 2025- Best International Feature Film (Nominated)

Other Awards: 2025 BAFTA- Best Film Not in the English Language (Nominated); 2024 Palme d’Or (Nominated); 2025 Golden Globes– Best Motion Picture Non English Language (Nominated)