As a title, The Seed Of The Sacred Fig sounds like a parody of a Middle Eastern movie Jerry, George and Elaine might have gone to see on Seinfeld. But the actual film couldn’t be more genuine and vital. A well-deserved nominee in this year’s Best International Feature category at the Academy Awards, Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof’s near three-hour drama was made in secret in late 2023, deemed illegal by the country’s theocratic dictats.

When the finished film was announced and selected for the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, the director was sentenced by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Court to eight years in jail, flogging and a fine. Rather than serve time, Rasoulof skipped the country after sentencing and fled to a safe house in Germany (which explains why the film is the German entry into the Best International Feature category). And all some filmmakers have to worry about is getting the final cut.