Veteran Iranian filmmaker and democracy campaigner Jafar Panahi has once again defied state bans to deliver a powerful cinematic statement. His latest work, It Was Just an Accident, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, offering a surreal and brutal dissection of corruption and tyranny in his homeland.
A Nightmare Journey Triggered by a Simple Mistake
The film's plot is set in motion by a deceptively mundane event. A man, played by Ebrahim Azizi, is driving at night with his pregnant wife and daughter when he hits a dog. This simple accident causes his car to break down minutes later, forcing him to seek help at a remote garage.
The garage is run by Vahid, nicknamed 'Jughead' due to a kidney condition, portrayed by Vahid Mobasseri. A tense recognition occurs between the two men—the driver has a limp—unleashing a bizarre and grotesque chain of events. This chance encounter reunites a group of Vahid's acquaintances, all of whom share a history of suffering at the hands of the state.
Satire, Bribes, and Surreal Encounters
Panahi guides the audience through a series of almost dreamlike sequences, from a desert landscape reminiscent of Waiting for Godot to chaotic scenes involving a bride in her wedding gown. The narrative tone shifts jarringly between black comedy, horror-farce, and tragedy, mirroring the absurd reality it depicts.
A central theme is the systemic corruption within Iranian officialdom, portrayed with acid satire. In one standout scene, a hospital nurse explicitly demands a bribe, requesting cash and a box of pastries. The satire reaches a peak when two security guards, asked for a 'present', produce a portable debit card reader, accepting contactless payments for their silence.
A Courageous Voice Defying Censorship
The film stands as another act of defiance from Panahi, who continues to make movies despite repeated arrests, imprisonment, and official bans. The Iranian authorities, sensitive to international opinion, have adopted a tense, hypocritical tolerance towards his global prestige.
It Was Just an Accident is described as potentially his most emotionally explicit work to date. It confronts the pain of tyranny that lurks beneath surface normality, asking difficult questions about how ordinary people can be driven to contemplate violence. The film is a testament to Panahi's status as one of world cinema's most distinctive and courageous figures.
It Was Just an Accident screened at the Cannes film festival and will be released in UK and Irish cinemas from 5 December.
