When Muhammad Rasulof is the name, we think about these very powerful pictures that lived in the Lumière Theater of the Cannes Festival in May 2024. The filmmaker was there, proud, smiling, guaranteed a step, full applause. Historical moment.
He was sentenced to eight years in prison, with an Iranian director succeeding his country to escape and present his film to the skin, in the seeds of a wild fig tree.
The filmmaker has lived in the exile since then. This Monday, he was at the Locarno Festival, where he was awarded the first Locarno Città della Pace Award. These are new prizes awarding works and filmmakers who are loyal to peace, dialogue and diplomacy, which will be given once every two years).
He gave interviews in Locarno, especially in Variety and Hollywood Reporter. The opportunity to shoot news in France after his latest film, on September 18, 2024, Les Graines du Figuier Sauvage, Special Jury Prize in Cannes.
In Hollywood reporterHe takes his projects and the opportunity to return to Iran. “My question is no more:”What scenario should you shoot yet? “But:” What should I do? “Should I stay here or go back to Iran?”
He points to his fear of the idea that may return to Iran: “Yes, I’m afraid. This person is more important to me today than he faces his own fears, how to resist this diet. Is it when it comes to dangers, or staying here for a new film?”
The filmmaker defines 3 ready -made scenarios, becomes in Europe or the United States, and is closely linked to Iran: “The first date of 2012, with a producer who is still waiting for him to turn it into. The second was written in 2022-2023, and I lived in Iran, between the two remaining in prison. The last is a recent, very personal story that deeply calls me. ”
Who am I? What does it mean to me? Where do I continue my fight? This is what determines my following movie
In VarietyHe emphasizes that he is ready to go through a new project, and insist on reflecting that he or she is currently choosing: “If I wanted to make a movie today in Europe or in the West, everything would be ready. (…) The question should not know when you start doing it. What does it mean to me: “Who am I? What do I mean I am? Where should I continue to fight?” This is what determines my following movie. “
When we met him in September 2024, he had already told us about the questions that were animated: “I wonder what it means to find this new geography, where I realize that I live, my human relationships are spread. I wonder to meet new people, new people, and therefore try to imagine stories that can establish this new relationship that can be related to both people, but with new geography that welcomes. This is what is working at this point.“
He also shared his cinema vision for us: “Art and creating is a therapy for me. I have many questions about life, about existence, what I have to do. But because I have always lived in an authoritative system, I never gave it to what is existential. I have always found myself confronting myself from the most basic rights.
Art and creating is a therapy for me.
For me, what about our people. Why are these rights for this. For me, it is truly freedom of expression in its most basic sense. It is a fact of filming, which gives me the feeling that I can claim this freedom. To me, this is the order of creation. “
At the end of the month, Muhammad Rasuloff will be at the Venice Festival as a member of the jury.
The seeds of wild figs Vod and DVD are available.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
