"The Things You Kill": A Haunting Exploration of Masculinity and Loss

Premiering at Sundance's World Dramatic Competition and later screening at Rotterdam, "The Things You Kill" emerges as Iranian auteur Alireza Khatami's most intimate and experimental work to date.

Led by an acclaimed Turkish cast, the film follows Ali, a middle-aged professor whose life unravels after the suspicious death of his mother. Isolation and vulnerability engulf Ali as he navigates a system that offers little solace for male emotions.

"We often speak of the patriarchy's impact on women," says Khatami. "But it also inflicts violence on men, breaking them down in the process."

A Psychological Thriller Inspired by David Lynch

Khatami draws inspiration from David Lynch's unsettling yet introspective style, blending psychological thriller elements with an art-house aesthetic. The film's formal pivots and disorienting atmosphere keep audiences on edge, subverting their expectations.

"My goal was to lead them into uncharted territory," explains Khatami. "The first half lures them in, making them think they know the film's trajectory. But then the gloves come off."

Exploring Pain Through Autofiction

Khatami delves deeply into his own experiences, blurring the lines between reality and fiction. "Up to 70% of the story is based on shared experiences," he reveals. "Opening myself up in this way is both liberating and terrifying."

The Impact of Turkish Landscapes

The film's breathtaking Anatolian landscapes play a transformative role. "I wanted to place Ali in vast, open spaces that amplify his isolation," says Khatami. "The beauty and stillness of the surroundings create a profound sense of disquiet."

Confronting Patriarchal Conditioning

Ali's journey becomes a metaphor for confronting patriarchal conditioning. "He realizes that he is not immune to the system that he has sought to distance himself from," explains Khatami. "The father figure becomes an embodiment of this inner struggle."

Subverting Expectations

"The Things You Kill" challenges the narrow expectations often imposed on filmmakers from non-Western backgrounds. "We are not confined to political narratives," asserts Khatami. "We can explore diverse stories that transcend boundaries."

Legacy of Impact

Khatami hopes that the film's haunting atmosphere will linger with audiences long after the credits roll. "I want it to crawl under their skin and live there, quietly like a whisper," he says. "True art doesn't offer easy answers; it plants seeds that slowly grow."