It Was Just An Accident

An Iranian man seeks revenge on the person who tortured him, but what if he has kidnapped the wrong man? In this Palme d’Or–winning film, Jafar Panahi (Taxi Tehran) weaves moral dilemmas, flashes of dark humour and unsettling revelations into an exceptionally powerful thriller.

Vahid is working in a garage when a customer comes in with car trouble. He is shaken when he thinks he recognises the man as Eghbal, the officer who tortured him in prison. He senses an opportunity for revenge, yet doubt quickly sets in. Together with several fellow victims, Vahid desperately tries to uncover the truth. Their search leads them into situations that range from risky to downright absurd. How can they be sure they have the right man?

Director Jafar Panahi was himself sentenced to six years in prison and banned from practising his profession. Drawing in part on his own experiences, he made It Was Just an Accident after his release, filming it without permission from the Iranian regime.