Iranians struggle with Kafkaesque authorities in a minimalist, delightfully dark satire.
Terrestrial Verses by Ali Asgari and Alireza Khatami is a delightfully dark satire in the vein of Abbas Kiarostami, which meticulously and formally examines the nature of authority. The film aptly illustrates the connection between the creative use of evocative minimalism that Iranian filmmakers are known for and their need to circumvent state control.
In nine simple scenes, shot indoors with a fixed camera, citizens in Tehran encounter people with power - parents, teachers, officials and businessmen. Difficult dialogues broach taboos large and small. These include hijabs, hair color, baby names and who owns a dog. Each scene unfolds between a visible person and an off-screen authority who interrogates the person, sometimes with sadistic pleasure.