Director Mohammad Rasoulof was sentenced to eight years in prison by the Iranian government just before completing The Seed of the Sacred Fig and chose to seek asylum during the Cannes Film Festival. While this incident surrounding the director garnered significant attention, the film itself also made a profound impact upon its screening at Cannes. It is not merely a social critique but delves deeply into various angles of complex issues. Set against the backdrop of intense anti-government protests against compulsory hijab, the story follows a father who investigates crimes against religious teachings. As the protests escalate and his two daughters join the movement, the father becomes increasingly oppressive. The mother, who initially supported her husband, grows increasingly concerned with her daughters and gradually sides with them. The family’s conflict reaches a boiling point when the father’s gun goes missing. The film, which exposes the realities of Iranian society, goes beyond criticizing the Iranian government and explores the patriarchal order at the root of tragedy, showing such issues are not unique to Iran but are present in any country, whether in the West or East. (NAM Dong-chul)