Haunted by the suspicious death of his ailing mother, a university professor coerces his enigmatic gardener to execute a cold-blooded act of vengeance.
Director
Alireza Khatami is an award-winning writer, director, and producer based in Canada. Born into the indigenous Khamse tribe in southeast Iran, Alireza draws from the rich oral storytelling traditions of his heritage, crafting a unique style that blends magic realism with sharp social commentary. Known for his bold cinematic choices that defy convention, his films unravel the invisible architecture of power, tracing societal systems and psychological forces that shape human behavior and identity.
Alireza began as an assistant director alongside esteemed filmmakers, including two-time Oscar winner Asghar Farhadi. His debut feature, Oblivion Verses, premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2017, garnering critical acclaim and winning multiple awards, including the Orizzonti Award for Best Screenplay and the FIPRESCI prize. His second feature, Terrestrial Verses (co-directed with Ali Asgari), premiered in the Un Certain Regard competition at Cannes Film Festival to rave reviews and has been theatrically released in more than 15 countries.
Alireza continues his boundary-pushing cinema with his latest film, The Things You Kill, set to make its world premiere in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at Sundance 2025.
Alireza began as an assistant director alongside esteemed filmmakers, including two-time Oscar winner Asghar Farhadi. His debut feature, Oblivion Verses, premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2017, garnering critical acclaim and winning multiple awards, including the Orizzonti Award for Best Screenplay and the FIPRESCI prize. His second feature, Terrestrial Verses (co-directed with Ali Asgari), premiered in the Un Certain Regard competition at Cannes Film Festival to rave reviews and has been theatrically released in more than 15 countries.
Alireza continues his boundary-pushing cinema with his latest film, The Things You Kill, set to make its world premiere in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at Sundance 2025.
Cast & crew
CAST
Ekin Koç (Burning Days)
Erkan Kolçak Köstendil
Hazar Ergüçlü (The Wild Pear Tree)
Ercan Kesal (Once Upon a Time in Anatolia)
PRODUCERS
Elisa Sepulveda-Ruddoff for Fulgurance & Cyriac Auriol for Remora Films
Mariusz Włodarski
COPRODUCERS
Marta Gmosińska for Lava Films (The Girl with the Needle, Apples, Sweat)
Alireza Khatami for Tell Tall Tale
Michael Salomon for Band With Pictures
Ekin Koç with Cenk Ünalerzen at Sineaktif
Festivals and awards
- SUNDANCE 2025 - World Cinema Dramatic Competition
- IFFR