‘My team is busy in Iran’: Mohamed Rasoulof’s powerful speech at Cannes for ‘Seeds of the Wild Fig Tree’

This is a strong symbol from the jury of the 77th Cannes Film Festival: Greta Gerwig and other members decided to award a special prize to Mohammad Rasoulof, an Iranian film director and great activist.

He was supposed to be part of the jury last year, and finally this year he was invited to present his new film “Seeds of the Wild Fig Tree” in competition. This drama immerses us in Tehran, which is rocked by political and social unrest. Investigating judge Iman discovers that his gun is missing, he suspects his wife and daughters, and takes draconian measures that strain family ties.

And it was his film, but also his courage, that was celebrated with a special prize. Because his works are indeed appreciated by the world of Western cinema, but they are completely rejected by the Iranian government, which condemned him repeatedly for “propaganda against the regime” along with other filmmakers such as Mustafa Alehmadi and Jafar Panahi.

“The people of Iran live under a totalitarian regime that has taken them hostage”

This wave of repression against these artists prevented the arrival of Mohamed Rasulof, even if he was temporarily released from prison due to health problems. Finally, the filmmaker attended the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival and gave a powerful speech after accepting a special prize.

Let me think first of all my team members who are not with me today to celebrate this moment, to celebrate this award. There are some of my actors, there are my cinematographer, sound engineer, some numbers. technicians who are detained in Iran and who are currently under pressure from the secret services of the Islamic Republic. So, first of all, my heart goes out to them.

And if I have to talk to you again about my heart, I can tell you that it is in a very ambivalent state. I’m obviously very happy to finish the film, to present it here, to be recognized with this award tonight. But I am also very sad, deeply saddened by the disaster that my people are going through every day.

Every day, every morning, every second, the Iranian people live under a totalitarian regime that has taken them hostage. So, indeed, the situation is serious in many parts of the world. People are suffering in many parts of the world.

But I can just tell you that my people, the Iranian people, are being held hostage by this regime of the Islamic Republic. I would also like to salute and thank all the people who made this film possible and all these young women whose courage and immense bravery inspired this film.

These actors who are here, all the members of this team who were able to come and those who once again couldn’t come, also my co-producers, my distributors, everyone who worked together to make the miracle of this film possible. Many thanks to the festival for the invitation and thanks to the jury for the selection.”

Wild Fig Seeds does not have a theatrical release date yet.