Critic praises 'In the Arms of the Tree' as Iran's Oscar pick

The selection of ‘In the Arms of the Tree’, directed by Babak Khajeh-Pasha, as Iran's representative for the 2025 Academy Awards has sparked debate, with critics lauding its artistic merits.

Jennifer Green, a film critic for The Hollywood Reporter, Seattle Times, and San Francisco Chronicle, highlighted the film’s aesthetic appeal and symbolic storytelling in an article published by the Alliance of Women Film Journalists.

She praised the film for its “intimate yet universal family story” and called it “a testament to the emergence of a remarkable talent” in reference to director and screenwriter Babak Khajeh-Pasha.

While Green acknowledged the film’s emotional depth and visual beauty, she also pointed out its cautious approach to social commentary.

“Although the film deals with the issue of divorce, it avoids controversial issues and shows strong support for the concept of family,” she noted.

The film's artistic strengths, however, are undeniable. Its portrayal of Iranian nature, with the symbolic use of natural elements that “seem to participate in the lives of the characters and foretell their future,” is widely appreciated.

This connection to nature, paired with the film’s exploration of coexistence among Iran’s diverse ethnic groups, underscores the director’s subtle yet evocative storytelling approach.

'In the Arms of the Tree' has already made its mark on the international stage. It was screened at the 10th Asian World Film Festival (AWFF) in Los Angeles, where it received the Special Jury Award.

The film has been officially selected as Iran’s representative in the Best International Feature Film category at the 2025 Academy Awards. After reviewing submissions from various countries, the Academy announced a shortlist of 85 films deemed eligible to compete in this category. 

The preliminary voting for the 2025 Oscars will take place from December 9 to December 13, with the final shortlist for the Best International Feature Film, Best Animation, and Best Documentary categories set to be announced on December 17 (corresponding to Azar 27 in the Iranian calendar). 

The 97th Academy Awards ceremony will be held on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.