Mohammad Rasoulof’s ‘Seed of the Sacred Fig’ Shakes Up Cannes With 2024 Record 12-Minute Standing Ovation, Becoming Palme d’Or Frontrunner
variety.comThe Seed of the Sacred Fig,” Mohammad Rasoulof‘s latest film that he received an eight-year prison sentence from Iranian authorities for making, earned a rapturous 12-minute standing ovation at its Cannes Film Festival premiere on Friday.
Rasoulof risked his life by appearing at the premiere as he fled Iran for Europe on May 13 to avoid going to prison. There was undeniable applause as the film’s credits began to roll (though it is Variety‘s policy to begin timing the standing ovation once the house lights come up), with Rasoulof getting teary and waving enthusiastically to the balcony.
Ali Abbasi, the director of fellow competition title “The Apprentice,” stood next to Rasoulof and encouraged the crowd to keep clapping — not that they needed it, as their cheers just seemed to get louder and louder.
There was even a sign in the audience reading “Femme! Vie! Liberté!” (“Woman! Life! Freedom!”), the slogan for solidarity with Iranian women who are demonstrating for their fundamental rights.
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