The Seed of the Sacred Fig

A 2024 Iranian-German-French political drama directed by Mohammad Rasoulof. The plot centers on Iman, an investigative judge in Tehran's Revolutionary Court, who grapples with paranoia amid escalating political protests following the death of a young woman. When his gun mysteriously disappears, Iman begins to distrust his wife and daughters. The film combines fictional narrative with real footage of the 2022–2023 protests in Iran, which were violently suppressed by authorities. Starring Soheila Golestani, Missagh Zareh, and Mahsa Rostami, it premiered on May 24, 2024, at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Palme d'Or and won the Special Jury Prize. Prior to the premiere, Rasoulof was sentenced to eight years in prison by Iranian authorities but managed to flee to Germany and attended the Cannes red carpet with the cast. The film received critical acclaim and was released in France on September 18, 2024, grossing $6.2 million.