“Women who show their hair, that’s debauchery for them”

Paris Match. You are receiving this evening (the interview was carried out on Monday January 20, Editor’s note) a Light from journalists from around the world based in Paris for “The Seeds of the Wild Fig Tree”. What does this mean to you?

Mohammad Rasoulof. I think the most important aspect of this award is that “The Seeds of the Wild Fig Tree” tells a very local story that may seem limited to the Iranian people. Yet by telling it in a universal way, you can reach viewers who live in completely different contexts. It’s very important to think about how the audience can understand the issues of a story. I know that many aspects of life under a dictatorship remain unimaginable for people in a democracy and it touches me that spectators around the world are moved by this story.

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You had to flee your country to escape certain arrest. What is the situation today for your colleagues who remained in Iran?

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At the beginning it was very hard. The authorities raided the offices of my cinematographer. They confiscated the sound engineer’s passport and some of my actors were almost arrested at the airport when they wanted to leave. As time passes, things settle down a little. But we have had legal action taken against us. We were told that state security was being undermined, that the film was propaganda. And, more surprisingly, we are being prosecuted for corruption of morals and incitement to debauchery. The call to come out is women showing their hair. That, for them, is debauchery (he sighs). The trial took place and now we await the judgment. The person who is under the most pressure is Soheila Golestani, the actress who plays the mother. She remained in Tehran. But for now, it’s a big blur. But at the same time, such strange, astonishing things have happened in Iran recently. So, we don’t know what awaits us.

“Cinema shows the resistance of cultures”

Do you know if the film has been seen in Iran?

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I know the film made it to Iran, it was probably seen on cell phones but I don’t know if people liked it. Democracy allows for simpler and more spontaneous reactions.

During the closing night of the last Cannes Film Festival – Mohammad Rasoulof received the special jury prize – the young actresses of your film danced with the heroines of “All We Imagine as Light” by Payal Kapadia, an Indian film which, he too suffered the wrath of his government. What if it was just the most beautiful message that your film could carry, that of women’s freedom?

(His face lights up). I love Payal Kapadia’s film. I just spoke with her. Cinema shows the resistance of cultures, opens windows to create a dialogue between people and try to bring us closer to peace in the world.