After the death of Mahsa Amini sparked mass protests in Iran, filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, imprisoned for his critiques of the government, found inspiration for a new film. Released following a general pardon, he worked secretly on The Seed of the Sacred Fig, directing from home via FaceTime. His covert production continued until his film was accepted at Cannes, at which point he faced renewed legal troubles, leading him to flee Iran. The experience of censorship and paranoia heavily influenced his storytelling, as Rasoulof sought to reveal the oppressive nature of the regime through his work.
My time in jail opened my eyes to the realities of our state. It ignited my desire to create a story depicting the paranoia and oppression at play.
Creating The Seed of the Sacred Fig in such a clandestine manner was both thrilling and terrifying. It reaffirmed my commitment to telling uncomfortable truths.
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