19/44
Tale
Investigating judge Iman struggles with paranoia amid political unrest in Tehran
When his gun goes missing, he suspects his wife and daughters and implements drastic measures that disrupt family ties as social norms crumble. However, he is arrested in July 2022 after criticizing the government’s crackdown on protesters in the southwestern city of Abadan, Iran, for a deadly building collapse.
On May 12, 2024, Rasouloff announced that he had managed to deceive Iran and was staying in an undisclosed location in Europe
On May 8, 2024, Rasouloff’s lawyer announced that he had been sentenced to eight years in prison, as well as flogging, a fine, and the confiscation of his assets. On May 24, 2024, Rasouloff attended the film’s premiere in Cannes, and on the red carpet, he held up photos of two of the film’s actors, Soheila Golestani and Missagh Zareh, from the film, which might help to explain where the film’s name came from: There are plants known as "strangler figs" that exhibit strange behavior.
The seeds germinate and send out roots that eventually reach the ground
Strangler figs (genus *Ficus*) begin their lives as seeds deposited on the branches of a host tree, usually by birds or other animals. As the roots grow and thicken, they encircle the host tree, creating a lattice structure.
Over time, the strangler fig’s roots and branches grow larger and more robust, competing with the host tree for sunlight and nutrients
Eventually, the fig’s growth can grow so large that it strangles the trunk of the host tree, limiting its ability to transport water and nutrients. This process can lead to the death of the host tree, effectively allowing the strangler fig to take over the space and resources previously used by the host through physical confinement and competition for resources.