2025 Palme d’Or Winner
“I know those who were supposed to liberate us kill our youth while reciting prayers.”
Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just An Accident is a wild political thriller, and it’s a miracle it was even released. It’s important to note that Panahi was being hunted by Iran for “anti-regime propaganda”, which is why while this was shot in Iran, so much of this film takes place inside a van or in a desert. And when it is in public, you notice the use of wide lenses. There’s something that makes knowing that, and it being a political film that calls out the evil being committed by the Iranian government to its own citizens, strengthen the film more. Unfortunately, Panahi was arrested in absentia and sentenced to one year in prison for this film, and he’s already stated he plans to go back to Iran, although he’s been living in France, which is why this film was France’s submission for Best International Feature Film at the Oscars.
It Was Just an Accident follows a man named Vahid, who after finding a man with a noticeably squeaky prosthetic leg, he becomes reminded of a man they called Peg Leg, who tortured him in prison with that same squeaky prosthetic leg. He ends up kidnapping the man, and just before he buries him alive, he has a second thought of doubt. So he finds a group of people who were also affected by him and they decide what to do with him.
This is such a great film, and even more impressive knowing its complex production. I will say, what “lowers” my rating of this film is that I never felt the comedy, as this is supposed to be a dark comedy. The implications of these characters makes this a heavy viewing, and its penultimate scene, backdropped by bright red lights, is rather haunting and sinister and is what I think perfectly describes how this whole film felt. And don’t even get me started to how well crafted its ending is.
This is a work of art, and it’s a shame that Panahi wasn’t nominated for Best Director, given what he sacrificed to create a film like this to this spectacle. He was nominated for Best Original Screenplay, along with Best International Feature, but this film already won the grand prize, the Palme d’Or at Cannes, cementing this film in history. I think It Was Just an Accident is the poster child for the ridiculous censorship and lack of empathy the Iranian government has for its citizens.
2025 Palme d’Or Winner
“I know those who were supposed to liberate us kill our youth while reciting prayers.”
Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just An Accident is a wild political thriller, and it’s a miracle it was even released. It’s important to note that Panahi was being hunted by Iran for “anti-regime propaganda”, which is why while this was shot in Iran, so much of this film takes place inside a van or in a desert. And when it is in public, you notice the use of wide lenses. There’s something that makes knowing that, and it being a political film that calls out the evil being committed by the Iranian government to its own citizens, strengthen the film more. Unfortunately, Panahi was arrested in absentia and sentenced to one year in prison for this film, and he’s already stated he plans to go back to Iran, although he’s been living in France, which is why this film was France’s submission for Best International Feature Film at the Oscars.
It Was Just an Accident follows a man named Vahid, who after finding a man with a noticeably squeaky prosthetic leg, he becomes reminded of a man they called Peg Leg, who tortured him in prison with that same squeaky prosthetic leg. He ends up kidnapping the man, and just before he buries him alive, he has a second thought of doubt. So he finds a group of people who were also affected by him and they decide what to do with him.
This is such a great film, and even more impressive knowing its complex production. I will say, what “lowers” my rating of this film is that I never felt the comedy, as this is supposed to be a dark comedy. The implications of these characters makes this a heavy viewing, and its penultimate scene, backdropped by bright red lights, is rather haunting and sinister and is what I think perfectly describes how this whole film felt. And don’t even get me started to how well crafted its ending is.
This is a work of art, and it’s a shame that Panahi wasn’t nominated for Best Director, given what he sacrificed to create a film like this to this spectacle. He was nominated for Best Original Screenplay, along with Best International Feature, but this film already won the grand prize, the Palme d’Or at Cannes, cementing this film in history. I think It Was Just an Accident is the poster child for the ridiculous censorship and lack of empathy the Iranian government has for its citizens.
