Parisa Mohyedini

The Seed of the Sacred Fig (2024) throws you right into the heart of Tehran during a time when everything feels like it’s about to combust. Parisa Mohyedini steps into the chaos as a woman who’s got more on her plate than anyone should. Her husband, a judge working for the regime, comes home one day with a gun and a head full of paranoia thanks to the protests boiling over outside. Parisa’s got two daughters, both with their own secrets and bubbling frustrations, and suddenly the walls of their apartment start to feel too close for comfort. The city’s in full tilt, protests everywhere, internet blackouts, everyone suspicious of everyone else. Parisa’s husband gets more controlling, convinced the world’s out to get him, and that seeps into every corner of their family life. What really gets you is how the film doesn’t let anyone off the hook. Parisa’s torn between keeping her family safe and standing up for what she knows is right, and watching her try to balance it all is enough to make your palms sweat. There’s this tension humming through every scene, like something bad could happen at any second. The cinematography leans into that claustrophobia, with tight shots and shadows everywhere. This isn’t some distant political drama—it’s messy, immediate, and way too relatable for anyone who’s ever felt trapped by circumstances bigger than themselves. You walk away thinking about how fear can twist love, and how, sometimes, just surviving feels like an act of rebellion.