It Was Just an Accident

Vahid, an unassuming Azerbaijani mechanic, is suddenly reminded of his time in an Iranian prison when he has a chance encounter with Eghbal, who stops at his auto shop seeking help after a car accident. Vahid, who was violently interrogated while blindfolded, strongly suspects the man to be his sadistic jailhouse captor. Vahid kidnaps him, preparing to bury him alive, but — is he certain that this man is his torturer? Panicked, Vahid rounds up a few of his fellow ex-prisoners to try and confirm Eghbal's identity.

Master Iranian 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 in the aftermath of an authoritarian regime.

"Jafar Panahi reaffirms his status as one of this century’s great cinematic heroes with perhaps his bravest film yet, which won him the Palme d’Or at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Ever since he was arrested, imprisoned, and banned from making movies by the Iranian government 15 years ago, Panahi has found ways of producing films in secret and without official permission. Working once again with a courageous cast and crew, he shows both his political risk-taking and confident command of craft in his most explicit attack on his country’s repressive regime." - Film at Lincoln Center

Winner of the Palm d'Or at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival

Part of our "Worth a Watch" series. In Farsi with English subtitles. Courtesy of NEON.