Grave diggers, corpses, beached whales and a giant hand populate the world of Alireza Khatami’s feature film debut, Oblivion Verses. A dark and tender odyssey, the film centers on the aging caretaker of a seemingly abandoned cemetery who is confronted by the outside world when a secret group of assassins, presumably military, takes over the grounds. As the vicious unit brings in nameless corpses of their own, the caretaker (also nameless) is beaten and cast out of the cemetery which had long been the only home he’d known.
Remembering the corpse of a young woman who had been caught in the fray, the caretaker resolves to find her a proper burial. Setting out on his own, the caretaker’s world quickly delves into elements of fantasy and surrealism,, all while tackling the universal theme of belonging in a realm ruled by death.
Director Biography
Alireza Khatami is a writer and director from Iran. He studied film at Savannah College of Art & Design, and currently splits his time between the U.S. and France. He has produced several short films, including Mr. Chang’s New Address (‘13). Oblivion Verses is his feature-film debut.
Press
"Haunting and perplexing." - Hollywood Reporter
Sponsored by:
