Sean Rameswaram

Why did you want to set a movie during those protests? And how did you come up with the idea for this family where all of the tensions we were seeing in the streets in Tehran were sort of manifested in this family unit?

And that's why you not only filmed this movie secretly, but you were also directing it remotely. You weren't allowed to make a movie in Iran, so you were never on the set of your own movie. How does that even work?

And that's why you not only filmed this movie secretly, but you were also directing it remotely. You weren't allowed to make a movie in Iran, so you were never on the set of your own movie. How does that even work?

And that's why you not only filmed this movie secretly, but you were also directing it remotely. You weren't allowed to make a movie in Iran, so you were never on the set of your own movie. How does that even work?

And now you very well may win an Oscar for this film that you shot in secret remotely in Iran. But of course, the country that wins this Oscar, if it indeed wins, is Germany. Why is it Germany? Yes, of course.

And now you very well may win an Oscar for this film that you shot in secret remotely in Iran. But of course, the country that wins this Oscar, if it indeed wins, is Germany. Why is it Germany? Yes, of course.

And now you very well may win an Oscar for this film that you shot in secret remotely in Iran. But of course, the country that wins this Oscar, if it indeed wins, is Germany. Why is it Germany? Yes, of course.

Mohamed, thank you so much for joining us. I'm not in the Academy, but I hope you win an Oscar on Sunday. Thank you. Thanks. Muhammad Rasul, if you can call him Muhammad, his translator was Shada Dayani. The movie's The Seed of the Sacred Fig, and it's nominated for an Oscar for Best International Film. But some say Best International Film is the messiest category at the Oscars.

Mohamed, thank you so much for joining us. I'm not in the Academy, but I hope you win an Oscar on Sunday. Thank you. Thanks. Muhammad Rasul, if you can call him Muhammad, his translator was Shada Dayani. The movie's The Seed of the Sacred Fig, and it's nominated for an Oscar for Best International Film. But some say Best International Film is the messiest category at the Oscars.

Mohamed, thank you so much for joining us. I'm not in the Academy, but I hope you win an Oscar on Sunday. Thank you. Thanks. Muhammad Rasul, if you can call him Muhammad, his translator was Shada Dayani. The movie's The Seed of the Sacred Fig, and it's nominated for an Oscar for Best International Film. But some say Best International Film is the messiest category at the Oscars.

We're going to find out why when we're back on Today Explained.

We're going to find out why when we're back on Today Explained.

We're going to find out why when we're back on Today Explained.

Hello, podcast listeners. I'm Sean Romsom here from the Today Explained show, and I've got some news you can use. We're taking Vox Media podcasts on the road and heading back to Austin, Texas for the South by Southwest Festival. March 8th through 10th, we'll be doing special live episodes of hit shows, including our show, Today Explained. Where should we begin? With Esther Perel. Pivot.com.

Hello, podcast listeners. I'm Sean Romsom here from the Today Explained show, and I've got some news you can use. We're taking Vox Media podcasts on the road and heading back to Austin, Texas for the South by Southwest Festival. March 8th through 10th, we'll be doing special live episodes of hit shows, including our show, Today Explained. Where should we begin? With Esther Perel. Pivot.com.

Hello, podcast listeners. I'm Sean Romsom here from the Today Explained show, and I've got some news you can use. We're taking Vox Media podcasts on the road and heading back to Austin, Texas for the South by Southwest Festival. March 8th through 10th, we'll be doing special live episodes of hit shows, including our show, Today Explained. Where should we begin? With Esther Perel. Pivot.com.

A touch more with Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe. Not just football with Cam Hayward. And more presented by Smartsheet. The Vox Media podcast stage at South by Southwest is open to all South by Southwest badge holders. I'll be the guy in a Mr. T costume. We hope to see you at the Austin Convention Center soon. You can visit voxmedia.com slash SXSW to learn more. That's voxmedia.com slash SXSW.

A touch more with Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe. Not just football with Cam Hayward. And more presented by Smartsheet. The Vox Media podcast stage at South by Southwest is open to all South by Southwest badge holders. I'll be the guy in a Mr. T costume. We hope to see you at the Austin Convention Center soon. You can visit voxmedia.com slash SXSW to learn more. That's voxmedia.com slash SXSW.

A touch more with Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe. Not just football with Cam Hayward. And more presented by Smartsheet. The Vox Media podcast stage at South by Southwest is open to all South by Southwest badge holders. I'll be the guy in a Mr. T costume. We hope to see you at the Austin Convention Center soon. You can visit voxmedia.com slash SXSW to learn more. That's voxmedia.com slash SXSW.

And the Oscar goes to... Sean Ramos from Today Explained here with Nate Jones from Vulture, where earlier this month you published a piece titled, Is There Any Way to Fix Oscar's International Film Category? What's wrong with it, Nate?