IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
(Original Title: Yek tasadof-e sadeh)
Iran/France (2024) 103 mins.
Genre: Drama
Directors/writers: Jafar Panahi
Cast: Vahid Mobasseri (Vahid), Mariam Afshari (Shiva), Ebrahim Azizi (Eghbal)
Screening 18 November 2026 at Swindon Arts Centre
Synopsis
An unassuming man is reminded of his time in an Iranian prison when he encounters someone whom he suspects to be his sadistic jailhouse captor. Panicked, he rounds up a few of his fellow ex-prisoners to confirm the man's identity.
Reviews
“ … What makes It Was Just an Accident so interesting is the way each of the torture victims deals with the moral dilemma of what to do with Eghbal, assuming it really is him. …“
“ … And the backstory. Writer-director Jafar Panahi was himself imprisoned in Iran for his political views. In 2010, he was sentenced to six years in prison, but, after an international outcry, he was released after three months. In 2022, he was arrested again and spent seven months in prison. …“
“ … The premise is simple, but Panahi’s skill lies in how he balances this taut scenario with rich human complexity. Genre tropes are a vehicle, but the film’s heart lies in its characters: their pain, trauma, and resilience. Despite the heavy subject matter, what may surprise viewers is how sharply funny the script can be. Panahi leans into the absurdity of the situation at times, …“
“ … It all leads to a gut-punch of a climax, one that tests the humanity of its central characters and challenges our own assumptions. Panahi saves his sharpest critique for last, offering both a glimmer of hope and a chilling epilogue that lingers long after the credits roll.“
Film Facts
- Unlike many Iranian films critical of the regime, most of its participants are openly credited.
- Panahi himself attended the 2025 Cannes Film Festival winning the Palme d’Or.
- All post-production was done in Paris, keeping the material out of range of the Iranian authorities.