Both urgently political and deeply humane, this new moral classic confronts truth and uncertainty, revenge and mercy, head-on.
When auto mechanic Vahid unexpectedly encounters the man who may have been his torturer in prison, he kidnaps him with the intention to exact vengeance. But since the sole clue to the man’s identity is the distinct squeak of his prosthetic leg, Vahid turns to a loose circle of other now-freed victims for confirmation. And the danger only escalates.
As they deal with their past and diverging worldviews, the group struggles to decide — Is this him, without a doubt? And what would retribution mean, in actuality?
Unraveling against the ever-present backdrop of authoritarianism, It Was Just an Accident coalesces into a climactic act of resistance by Iranian auteur and cinematic luminary Jafar Panahi, who is no stranger to unjust detainment himself. Powered by thrilling momentum and peerless craft, the winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes asks us to consider — and reconsider — the line between right and wrong.
This film was recorded in the Farsi language and has English subtitles.
"It Was Just an Accident is a taut and twisting revenge thriller loaded with heavyweight ethical quandaries." Nicholas Barber, BBC
"Panahi welds scorching social critique to a masterful command of form: a devastating cry for justice, also serving as a superb thriller. It is a towering achievement." Leonardo Goi, The Film Stage
