The latest from acclaimed filmmaker Jafar Panahi makes for one of the year’s best films.
Tackling ethical quandaries in films is always tricky, especially for those made overseas, as the content can have ramifications beyond the work itself. For a multitude of reasons that may stretch beyond the confines of a typical review, filmmakers like Jafar Panahi, who are brave enough to get their films made, deserve applause for their efforts. This is particularly true when they know they could potentially face persecution for telling stories, such as the one in It Was Just an Accident, that need to be told. Centered on political prisoners plotting revenge against their tormentor, this thriller serves up unexpected twists and surprising humor. It’s an unforgettable experience that lingers in your mind long after the final scene.
A family trip takes a sharp turn when their vehicle strikes a dog, forcing them to visit the closest auto shop. There, the man, who uses a prosthetic leg, encounters the mechanic Vahid. Vahid instantly recognizes the distinct sound of the man’s prosthetic–a sound he remembers from his tormenter during his time as a political prisoner. The following day, Vahid kidnaps the man, but once his tormentor is captured, he is unsure how to proceed with his revenge. Seeking guidance, Vahid brings in other former prisoners who also were abused by the man, each with their own ideas for retribution. As this handful of people debates the fate of their tormentor, tensions rise, twists abound, and shocking humor ensues.
From the moment the vehicle hits the dog in the opening minutes, It Was Just an Accident grips our attention for its entire 100-minute runtime. The journey laid forth by the main characters is rich with unexpected twists and humor, yet it also has real heart, laying bare the scars that upended their lives as they confront the very evil that ruined them. The film is dialogue-heavy, with interactions that force each character to grapple with moral qualms about pursuing justice and the exact methods for achieving it. Thankfully, It Was Just an Accident is far from a simple revenge thriller revolving around the tormentor’s fate. The story takes unexpected turns–which won’t be spoiled here–spiraling into a complex scenario that transcends a simple good versus evil dynamic.
It Was Just an Accident features one of the year’s best ensembles, including Vahid Mobasseri as the auto mechanic, Ebrahim Azizi as the tormentor, Mariam Afshari as a photographer, Hadis Pakbaten and Majid Panahi as a couple, and Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr as a friend (of everyone but the tormentor). While every performance is strong, the dynamic truly comes into focus with the arrival of the couple and the friend. Their addition fully establishes the intense, ongoing debate facing the group and underscores how their final decision will forever change their lives.
Ultimately, It Was Just an Accident is a powerful achievement, not only for the bravery required by its filmmaker to tell such a story but also for its success in executing a narrative that is both tightly controlled and morally sprawling. By using a simple revenge setup–a mechanic kidnapping his former tormentor–as a launchpad for a profound, dialogue-heavy exploration of justice, trauma, and retribution, the film unmasks the lasting scars of political violence. Finally, and most notably, the film’s unsettling, final moments tragically underscore the truth of what we just witnessed before: no act of justice can ever truly erase the horrors the characters endured.