Terrestrial Verses

Terrestrial Verses is a satirical comedy and drama set in modern-day Tehran. The film consists of nine vignettes that explore the absurdities of navigating an authoritarian system through the experiences of ordinary people. These episodes, arranged roughly in chronological order from birth to death, feature individuals interacting with unseen officials to handle mundane tasks. Conflict arises as characters attempt to overcome institutional, religious, and cultural restrictions while seeking things such as newborn name approvals, driver's licenses, job opportunities, and filming permits.

The movie was co-directed and co-written by Ali Asgari and Alireza Khatami. For Asgari, this 2023 release precedes Divine Comedy and A Bit of Light, both from 2026. For Khatami, it precedes The Things You Kill from 2025. The production was a collaboration between Iran, Canada, and Luxembourg, involving companies such as Taat Films and Seven Springs Pictures. The cast includes Majid Salehi, Gohar Kheyrandish, Farzin Mohades, Sadaf Asgari, Hossein Soleimani, and Faezeh Rad, among a total of 20 credited actors.

Audiences have responded positively to the film. It holds a rating of 7.2 on IMDb based on 1,700 votes and a 7.4 on TMDB from 56 votes.