Much lauded Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi has done two unjustified stints in prison in Iran but he always simply speaks the truth in his films. The most recent saw him get out in 2022 and he is now free to travel again, but the experience has affected him to the point his new film, It Was Just An Accident, deals in a fictional way with past wrongfully incarcerated working class people seeking revenge against the guard who tortured and berated them. It had its World Premiere today at the Cannes Film Festival where it is an official selection in competition. Panahi was previously in competition in 2018 with 3 Faces, won the Camera d’Or for his first film The White Balloon in 1995, and a jury prize in Un Certain Regard for Crimson Gold in 2003.
What may really surprise audiences with It Was Just An Accident is the amount of humor the director has been able to pack in this film, that is until its chilling final confrontational scene and a lasting image that will give you chills.
The movie opens as we watch a family driving home down a dark road when suddenly the car appears to hit something. The father gets out and sees a suffering dog and off camera puts it out of its misery. The drive continues until they get home, but before that happens Vahid (Vahid Mubasseri), a mechanic, gets a disturbing call and immediately grabs a motorcycle eventually catching up with the family’s now dented car. He watches from a distance as they put the car in the garage, and is back the next morning in his own car waiting as a tow truck takes it to the shop.
He then follows the father who he will reveal to be the man named Eghbal (Ebrahim Azizi) he thinks tortured him when he was tossed into prison for simply asking to be paid his wages, He sideswipes him, shackles and blindfolds him, carting him away to the desert where he has prepared a grave in order to bury him alive. The father pleads for his life as dirt is being shoveled in his face, unable to understand what Vahid is doing this for. Vahid believes he has his man he nicknamed peg leg and other prisoners called a gimp due to the fact he lost a leg and wears a prosthetic which made a distinctinve thumping sound every time he came in contact with them. Because he was tipped about this man who has a prosthetic leg he is taking revenge, but then has doubts when the frightened guy seems so convincing in his denial. He needs another opinion.
Others are then brought into the action as we learn each was in the same prison including a photographer named Shiva (Maryam Adshari) who is in the middle of a wedding photo shoot with a bride (Hadis Pakbaten) and groom (Majid Panahi), interrupted by the anxious Vahid who now has the man knocked out and tied up in a box in his truck. He wants Shiva to confirm the identity. She thinks it is possible, and it fuels her fury all over again, but she is not 100% sure. Then it turns out the bride was a victim as well and just as hell-bent to wreak revenge. Vahid calls another friend to verify the identification – the hot-headed Hamid who quickly determines he is the one and wants to kill him. Hamid is full of conspiracy theories and believes authorities will get to them because this is all some kind of setup. It all becomes an absolutely absurd and funny situation as the group travels together with their prey in the back of the van trying to figure out the best path forward.
There are more than a few laughs in this film despite the seriousness of the treatment these poor souls were given at the hand of the government for no good reason, working people whose lives were upended. No wonder they have such strong emotions, but to watch this ragtag bunch including a fully dressed bride and groom (who is the only one that didn’t share the prison experience) is almost like a farce.
Ultimately it very much isn’t, and the sheer skill of Panahi to juggle the tonal changes is impressive to say the least. The film has much to say about the callous nature of Iran in just throwing anyone in jail with no viable reason. It gains new universal relevance because it is happening in America right now with the immigration crisis, and spreading to other parts of the world with authoritarian regimes. It Was Just An Accident is a powerful statement for humanity and serves as a warning that you better watch your back. It could happen anywhere. This film poignantly shines a light on those who are victimized, and that includes the movie’s courageous director who has travelled to Cannes with his cast for this premiere.
Producers are Panahi and Phillippe Martin.
Title: It Was Just An Accident
Festival: Cannes Film Festival – Official Selection In competition
Sales Agent: M2K Films
Director/Screenplay: Jafar Panahi
Cast: Vahid Mubasseri, Maryam Afshari, Mohamad Polielyasmehr, Majid Panahi, Georges Hashemzadea, Ebrahim Azizzi, Delmaz Najafi, Afssaneh Najamabadi.
Running Time: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Content shared from deadline.com.