THE THINGS YOU KILL | ÖLDÜRDÜĞÜN ŞEYLER

FRANCE, CANADA, TURKEY, POLAND | 2024 | COLOR | DCP | 114’ | TURKISH, ENGLISH

A Turk academic working in the US is outraged when he learns of the sudden death of his ill mother. Haunted by suspicions surrounding her death, he entrusts an unexpected ally with a brutal act of revenge. Still, nothing in this story is what it initially seems. Earning complimentary comparisons to the late works of David Lynch and Luis Buñuel, the Iranian-Canadian director presents a slow-burning psychological thriller, steeped in surrealism and the atmosphere of a morbid dream. Drawing symbolism from the natural landscape, he complements his introspective gaze with a deeply cinematic commentary on the internal struggle between the old and the new. This, in turn, makes for a unique experience, a commentary with rare political and artistic acuity, and certainly one of the great festival discoveries of 2025. Th.K.

DIRECTOR: Alireza Khatami
SCREENWRITER: Alireza Khatami
DoP: Bartosz Swiniarski
MUSIC: Daithí
EDITORS: Alireza Khatami, Selda Taskin
PRINCIPAL CAST: Ekin Koç, Erkan Kolçak Köstendil, Hazar Ergüçlü, Ercan Kesal

ALIREZA KHATAMI

Award-winning Iranian-Canadian writer, director, and producer. Born into the indigenous Khamseh tribe in southeast Iran, he was profoundly shaped by the oral storytelling traditions of his heritage. He began his career as an assistant director, working with esteemed filmmakers including two-time Oscar winner Asghar Farhadi. His debut feature, “Oblivion Verses”, premiered at the 74th Venice Film Festival, where it won three awards including the Orizzonti Award for Best Screenplay and the FIPRESCI Prize.

FILMOGRAPHY
2025 The Things You Kill
2023 Terrestrial Verses
2017 Oblivion Verses