Mohammad Rasoulof’s Prize Win at Cannes 2024 Signals a New Wave in Iranian Cinema
Mohammad Rasoulof, the director of “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” movie was awarded the Jury Special Prize in the 77th session of the Cannes Film Festival. The movie was shown at Lumière Hall on Friday and it was given a rare standing ovation by the viewers. Just before the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, news broke out that the Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, sentenced to eight years in prison and later prohibited from traveling, had escaped the country through land borders and had a film competing at the Cannes.
The movie is about the “Women, Life, Freedom” uprising that started on September 16, 2022. The story is about an interrogator who is actively involved in executions and punishments in the Islamic Revolutionary Court and is aspiring to be a judge, but the two daughters of the interrogator rebel and do not recognize his authority. The movie includes actual videos from the protests showing the use of force in the Islamic Republic.
The movie is not remarkable from a cinematic point of view, but it can be considered remarkable from the point of view that it is made in Iran, producing a political movie underground carries its own security challenges and the budget of an underground movie is very limited. Therefore, the jury of the festival has chosen to honor Mohammad Rasoulof with the prize, as Greta Gerwig said in the press conference after the awards were announced.
The father represents Islamism and traditional masculinity that has always imposed power by using violence and oppression, but now the struggle has moved from the street to the home and it is harder than ever to repress. The old regime of oppression and dictatorship is facing the thirst for freedom by women, especially Generation Z.
In his remarks at the closing ceremony, Mohammad Rasoulof addressed the dire condition of the political prisoners in Iran and specifically referred to Tumaj Salehi, the rapper who made a protest statement and was sentenced to death. Rasoulof stated that he strongly identifies with the Iranian people. He noted that he is joyous to have the award, but he is also sorrowful for the Iranian people who experience calamity every day. He said that the Iranian people are in pain and are the hostages.
The official Iranian cinema was banned from the Cannes Festival in 2023 due to the suppression of protests in Iran. Prior to this, Iranian cinema had been a consistent presence at Cannes. The most recent official Iranian film shown at Cannes was “Leila’s Brothers” in 2022. Since then, Iranian cinema seemed to have disappeared from the international stage until independent filmmakers began to evade the permission procedure in Iran and release their films independently.
Mohammad Rasoulof is a prominent figure in the field of independent filmmaking in Iran. He graduated from Shiraz University with a degree in sociology and studied film at Sooreh University in Tehran. He began his career with his first feature film, “Twilight” (2002). His subsequent works include “The Iron Island” (2005), “Goodbye” (2011), “Manuscripts Don’t Burn” (2013), “A Man of Integrity” (2017), and “There Is No Evil” (2020), most of which have received international acclaim. “There Is No Evil” notably won the Golden Bear at the 2020 Berlin Film Festival.
Rasoulof’s filmography is proof of his resistance and loyalty to storytelling, even in the face of adversity. His work continues to inspire audiences and filmmakers around the world and is an important example of the influence of cinema as a medium for social change.
Mohammad Rasoulof, during the press conference for the film “The Seed of the Sacred Fig,” urged Iranian filmmakers to not be afraid and to work independently from the regulations of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He explained that he left Iran to pursue filmmaking but aims to return one day. The inclusion of “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” in this year’s Cannes Film Festival competition marks a significant moment for Iranian cinema. Previously, Iranian films were heavily censored, and for instance showing women, even at home with a hijab, and addressing political and social issues, required careful masks. This development represents a step towards greater artistic freedom in Iranian cinema.
At this year’s Cannes Festival, Mohammad Rasoulof wasn’t the only Iranian filmmaker. Iranian-Danish filmmaker Ali Abbasi also entered the competition with a biographical film about Donald Trump. The movie portrays Trump’s early years and his rise to becoming a controversial figure in the USA. This portrayal stirred up controversy, leading Trump’s campaign headquarters to announce their intention to sue the filmmaker, claiming the film’s depiction of Trump is not true.
In 2022, Ali Abbasi showcased his film “Holy Spider” at the Cannes Festival. Zar Amir Ebrahimi, the lead actress in the movie, received the Palme d’Or for Best Actress. The Iranian government sparked controversy by threatening the film crew. “Holy Spider” depicts the story of a serial killer in Mashhad, an Iranian city known for its religious significance, who targets sex workers, believing he is carrying out God’s will and fulfilling his Islamic duty.
A recent report by Etemad, an Iranian newspaper, shows that 71 Iranian films were sent to the Cannes Film Festival without official permission. These films include feature-length, short, and documentary formats, showcasing the wide range of film productions in the country. This new wave in Iranian cinema is marked by less censorship and more freedom and is expected to offer a truer representation of Iranian cinema internationally.
