a review of 神圣无花果之种

Came away admiring this film more than fully enjoying it, but I can't deny the level of craftsmanship and dedication it took to secretly make a film in defiance of Iranian authorities, especially one of this level of quality. Not certain that the final act fully pays off the central conflict, nor that the answers we get fully hold up to how we get there over the length of the film, but then again I'm not certain that was the intent. I think the length will deter some viewers, and at times I was reminded a bit of Jeanne Dielmann in how it intertwines the political storyline with the mundane domestic lives of the women in the household. But similarly to Dielmann, I think this film will work well for a home audience who has the ability to chop up their viewing of it into "episodes" spread across 2 or more sittings.