Iranian Canadian filmmaker Alireza Khatami’s latest creation, a psychological thriller titled “The Things You Kill,” has been selected by Telefilm Canada as the country’s entry for the upcoming Academy Awards in the best international feature category. Drawing on personal family experiences, the film delves into themes of trauma and familial relationships.
Having premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and set for theatrical release soon, Khatami, who is also a Toronto-based professor, expressed mixed feelings about the film’s exposure. He admitted feeling apprehensive about unveiling such personal and deeply rooted emotions to a wider audience, especially his own relatives.
The storyline of the Turkish-language film revolves around a university professor named Ali grappling with the mysterious death of his mother while navigating his own family dynamics. Infused with surrealist elements, the movie is a reflection of Khatami’s own journey of confronting and transforming his family’s past traumas into a fictional narrative.
In discussing his creative process, Khatami emphasized the delicate balance between artistic expression and safeguarding his family’s privacy. Despite drawing inspiration from real-life events, he clarified that his aim was not to fabricate but to refine and adapt his experiences for the cinematic medium.
Born into the Indigenous Khamseh tribe in Iran, Khatami disclosed that his family remains unaware of the film’s content, and he has no intention of urging them to watch it. He expressed gratitude for their unwavering support throughout his career, acknowledging that they view him not as a filmmaker but as a devoted son.
A collaborative effort among Turkey, France, Poland, and Canada, “The Things You Kill” represents Khatami’s continued exploration of storytelling through film. As the submission process unfolds, the movie will compete for recognition at the prestigious Academy Awards, with the final nominees set to be revealed in the lead-up to the ceremony scheduled for March 15, 2026.
