Mohammad Rasoulof's Film is One of Germany's Candidates for the Oscars

Germany has announced a list of thirteen films for consideration for the 2025 Oscars, among which is 'The Fig Tree of Temples,' the latest work by Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof. This film was present in the official competition section at the recent Cannes Film Festival and won the Jury's Special Prize. Although 'The Fig Tree of Temples' was made in Tehran with the participation of Iranian actors and crew, it is presented as a co-production of Iran, Germany, and France. According to a list published on Tuesday, August 14, 'From Hilda, With Love' by Andreas Dresen and 'Dying' directed by Matthias Glasner—both of which were present at the last Berlin Film Festival—are other nominees from Germany to represent the country in the Best International Feature Film category at the Oscars. Nominees in this category are selected from films submitted by national film organizations to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the United States. Mohammad Rasoulof made 'The Fig Tree of Temples' underground in Iran and announced just before its screening at Cannes that he had secretly left Iran through one of its land borders while a prison sentence was set to be executed. Additionally, ahead of its public release in France, the first trailer has been released, which includes scenes from the film. The cast includes Soheila Golestani, Mithaq Zare, Mahsa Rostami, and Setareh Maleki. Rasoulof previously stated that 'The Fig Tree of Temples,' which tells the story of a judge's family amidst the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests, features female actors without mandatory hijab and is based on his personal experiences with Iran's judicial system. This director, who opposes the Islamic Republic, mentioned in an interview with Reuters at the Cannes Festival that the initial idea for his new film came to him after several arrests and experiences in prison. He has been accused by the Iranian judiciary of various crimes, from producing films without permission to 'acting against national security.' 'The Fig Tree of Temples' was also screened on Sunday night at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, where Rasoulof spoke with the audience afterward, stating that the film is about 'subservience.' He also emphasized that the protest movement in Iran is still alive and waiting for another opportunity to emerge.