This is the slow time of the year for film releases—the good films, anyway—so I’ll go back and review some of last year’s best films. Here are two that were (deservedly) nominated for Best International Feature at this year’s Oscars. Both are difficult and important, and in one way or another, speak to us.

The Seed of the Sacred Fig (2024)

This film, from Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof, is a fantastic work of art with a wild story behind it. Produced in Iran among tense political conditions and strict censorship, it was filmed in secret and then elicited a charge of “collusion against national security” with an eight-year prison sentence, flogging, fine, and confiscated property for Rasoulof. Instead of facing the court, he escaped the country, videoing himself as he walked for 28 days  across the Iranian border and ultimately landing in Germany.

The Seed of the Sacred Fig

Rasoulof is an independent Iranian filmmaker with 10 feature films to his credit. His 2017 A Man of Integrity earned him a one-year prison sentence, as did There is no Evil (2020). The latter also won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, and it cemented a pattern of his films gaining worldwide acclaim while being banned at home. “Banned” in Iran also comes with severe punishment, but Rasoulof soldiered on. The one defining characteristic of all his films is a searing criticism of the Iranian government.

The film itself is captivating, and it centers around an investigating judge in Tehran, who comes to distrust his own family while overseeing a polemical case: the (suspicious) death of a young woman. When his own gun mysteriously disappears from his home, he begins to suspect family members. The fictional narrative also includes actual footage of the 2022–23 protests in Iran—all filmed  in secret. When the movie  was accepted into the Cannes Film Festival in 2024, the Iranian government interrogated the cast and crew, pressuring them to get Rasoulof to withdraw the film. He didn’t. That resistance now allows us to rent his film on streaming services, and it serves as a reminder that we should fight for what we believe is right and always rail against extremism.

The Girl with the Needle (2024)

Despite “girl” in the title, do not watch this film with your kids. This Danish production from director Magnus von Horn is uncomfortable, unseemly, and downright despicable at times. Yet, as the story unfolds and we fall further into its abyss, we can’t turn away from this psychological horror that is loosely based on the story of an actual Danish serial killer.

The Girl with the Needle

The film is set in 1919 and tells the story of a desperate young woman who takes a job as a wet nurse at a secretive (and illegal) adoption agency. Her journey there is one of abuse, neglect, and then, well, let’s just say this film may not be for everyone. Yet, the production is masterfully made and wildly engaging—in the way that horror can be. The acting is impeccable, the black and white cinematography is stunning, and overall, the aesthetics are hypnotic.

Talented Swedish-Polish director von Horn serves up a gritty film that takes us beyond any Hollywood notion of pristine period pieces. The dirty and venal are on display, but make no mistake, there is something to say here about our world and our society. This difficult film will stay with you for a while, and it rewards for conversation and a good think before you wash it away.

It is available to stream on Prime and AppleTV.

Vincent Piturro, PhD., is a Professor of Film and Media Studies at MSU Denver. Contact him directly at vpiturro@msudenver.com or follow him on X. For more reviews, search The Indie Prof at FrontPorchNE.com.