In an interview with AFP, Rasoulof emphasised the irony of the situation. "It is unimaginable that the Islamic Republic could have submitted a film like this for the Academy Awards," he remarked, adding that under Iran's strict regime, such a film would never have been made. Instead, “Sacred Fig”, a suspenseful family drama set against Iran's repressive political climate, is Germany's official Oscar submission.

Iranian rebel director Mohammad Rasoulof made a great escape from his homeland days before his movie, “The Seed of the Scared Fig”, was to play at the prestigious competition slot in the ongoing Cannes Film Festival. The film could remind you of an ever-enduring classic, “The Sound of Music” with Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer.