#The Seed of the Sacred Fig B+. Who would've thought this would be the most terrifying thriller in the main competition? Starting from heated political debates, it gradually extends the suffocating tentacles of psychological manipulation, before plunging into a *Shining*-esque nightmare of survival in the third act. It's no longer a speculation of "when the iron fist comes down," because the iron fist is in every corner of the system, and in everyone's heart. Plot logic takes a back seat, replaced by a visceral experience of violence through imagery. The escape and rebellion tangibly represent the extreme hardships and resilient vitality faced by Iranian women. By juxtaposing this with real footage at the end, it completes the crucial connection between genre expression and real-world concerns, blurring the lines both within and beyond the film.