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The Iranian film, has made its way through the film festival circuit, winning the hearts of critics and fellow actors. Directed by Jafar Panahi, who was previously banned from making films, ‘It Was Just An Accident’ is a thriller mixed with drama and comedy, and recently began its theatrical release on October 15 — it’s currently playing in theaters in New York and Los Angeles, and releases in San Francisco and Sacramento on Friday, Oct. 24.
Master filmmaker Jafar Panahi creates a deeply felt moral thriller, where high stakes tension combines with unexpected flurries of humor and thoughtful, sometimes devastating questions regarding persecution and revenge. The film follows the story of Vahid, a mechanic who has a chance encounter with a man who asks him for help with his broken down car. Vahid later on realizes that this man is Eghbal, a man who he suspects to be the person who tortured him in jail. Vahid goes on to meet several other former prisoners, all abused by Eghbal, as they try to confirm if it’s him and hold him responsible for their pain.
The viewer sees how all of the former captives are battling between wanting to take revenge for the their torture and setting Eghbal free to be with his postpartum wife, daughter, and newborn. Each former prisoner is grappling with their own moral compass, as well as forms of PTSD from the torture. Panahi does a great job showcasing how each person is going through their own internal journey throughout the film, without much dialogue from their end.
Recently, Panahi held a Q & A discussion with director Martin Scorcese, which you can watch in full here. Check out your local or nearby theater to see if the film is playing near you!
