After great success at Cannes, Iranian filmmaker Rasoulof will represent Germany at the Oscars

After the Cannes Film Festival, head to the Cinema Oscars. Forced to hastily flee Iran, his latest film will represent Germany at the Oscars: a symbolic escape for director Mohammad Rasoulof, both grateful and overwhelmed to reach this point to have his art recognized. The seeds of the wild fig tree, his paranoid thriller, filmed clandestinely in Iran, delighted the critics and notably won the special jury prize at Cannes.

But the theocracy in power in Tehran did not submit this insight into a family dislocated by the weight of Iranian repression for the Oscar for best international film. « It is obviously unimaginable that the Islamic Republic could present such a film at the Oscars »Mohammad Rasoulof told AFP before its release on Wednesday in the United States. « In fact, if it were possible, the film would never have existed. »

It is Germany, where the filmmaker is exiled, which propels this feature film, widely expected to be nominated, into the race for statuettes. The film was financed by French and German production companies. « I am delighted that Germany saw the international scope of the film and opened its arms to it », continues Mohammad Rasoulof. « It’s like carrying a torch, it’s a sign to filmmakers who work under duress around the world. » But the director nevertheless admits « bittersweet » faced with this situation. « I have quite contradictory feelings. »

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A film under « pression »

The film takes place in the midst of repression of the movement « Woman, life, freedom »during which hundreds of people were killed, according to NGOs. We follow Iman, an investigating judge in the service of the Islamic Republic, at a time when the revolt is brewing after the death of Mahsa Amini, arrested at the end of 2022 for not having respected the strict religious dress code. His wife Najmeh maintains the link with his two rebellious daughters, Rezvan and Sana, who secretly support the demonstrations, without participating in them. Iman is initially reluctant to sign orders to execute protesters, without any proof. But the pressure from the regime increases and instills in him a suspicion towards the youth. When the gun he was given to protect himself goes missing, his apparent paranoia causes his family to explode.

At the premiere of the film in Cannes, Mohammad Rasoulof had just fled Iran on foot, through the mountains, to reach Europe. The filmmaker, who has already spent time behind bars, had just been sentenced to eight years in prison for « collusion against national security », after denouncing the « corruption » et « incompetence » Iranian authorities. Actress Soheila Golestani, who plays Nameh, the mother in her film, is still in Iran and is suffering « the strongest pressure », recalls Mohammad Rasoulof. According to him, legal proceedings against the country’s filmmakers have accelerated in recent weeks.

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“I miss Iran”

The film officially selected by Iran for the Oscars is In The Arms Of The Tree. State media describe it as a drama that shows « beauty » of the country and highlights « the authenticity of the Iranian family ». Mohammad Rasoulof confesses his lack of interest in films « made according to the dictates of Iranian censorship ». « They tend to be quite far from reality. If you look at them, you feel like your intelligence is being insulted. », he tackles.

For his thriller, he claims Hollywood influences, which particularly inspired the last act, intense and chilling. « I was influenced by two films: Straw dogs the Sam Peckinpah et Shining de Stanley Kubrickhe says. I really enjoyed playing with genres and mixing them in a new way. »

The filmmaker is currently working on an animated film about Abbas Nalbandian, a committed playwright who « had very important experiences around the revolution » Iranian. Accustomed to directing his films without being on set to avoid censorship from the authorities, Mohammad Rasoulof wishes to bring this project to fruition, despite his exile. A reality that he still struggles to fully accept. « It’s very hard to understand that this has already been going on for six monthshe blurted. I miss Iran a lot. »