A satirical take on the mundane absurdities of life in modern-day Iran, these nine vignettes illuminate the lighter side of enduring under authoritarian rule. Whether choosing a name for a newborn, graduating from grade school, getting a driver’s license, applying for a job, or seeking approval for a film script, if you live in Iran, you best come fluent in Orwellian discourse. Progressing along a rough timeline from birth to death, each story is shot in a static camera angle as a single petitioner negotiates with an authority figure hovering just outside of frame, who is practiced in the language of doublespeak.
Lantouri is the name of a gang that mugs people in broad daylight on the streets of Tehran and breaks into homes in the city’s rich northern district. The gang also kidnaps children from families who have become wealthy through corruption and embezzlement of state funds. The film begins with the confessions of individual gang members. Sociologists, human rights activists and political hardliners also have their say. Gang member Pasha runs amok because Maryam, a socially committed, self-confident journalist, does not reciprocate his feelings. The badly injured young woman demands lex talionis – the law, applicable in Iran, of ‘an eye for an eye’.
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 blending magic realism with sharp social commentary. Known for his bold cinematic choices defying 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's boundary-pushing third feature, The Things You Kill, earned him the Best Director Award at the World Dramatic Competition of Sundance Film Festival 2025.
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