Writer/Director: Jafar Panahi
Starring: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari and Ebrahim Azizi
‘A Terrific Thriller’
Few countries across the world pose challenges upon citizens like Iran. A complex nation, Iran has built an image of being a country where citizens face oppression. On a personal level, I find stories of Iranian people relatable. At an early age, I formed relationships with an Iranian friend that would criticize a country causing damage. Raised in a war-torn nation, he sought to teach people about countries where families would face separation. An offer he couldn’t refuse, he loved expressing his strong views on a country in headline news. Defying government orders, he told stories of how citizens were treated as prisoners. My friend’s feelings of hatred for his country started when he saw his father sadly abducted. Witnessing his father being unfarily incarcerated for sad crime he hadn’t committed left him devastated. After he discovered his dad had been tortured, his perceptions of Iran were forever shattered. Refusing to believe that it was just an accident, he never recovered from the incident. Even though I wasn’t Iranian, I developed relationships with a friend that became a companion. I formed a powerful bond with an Iranian friend that taught me about a country in which life was rarely beautiful. Shining bright light in darkness, he gave me greater awareness of hardships Iranian people witness. However, immigration brought his dreams towards closure. When his family relocated back to the country of Iran, he never had the opportunity to exact revenge against perpetrators he hated. Although we aren’t in contact anymore, I treasure an Iranian friend that gave me greater insight into a complex country that I adore. Years later, I treasure an Iranian friend that fought one battle after another in a country that changed his life forever.
As someone treasuring an Iranian friend that never recovered from a grim accident, I adored “It was Just an Accident”. Released in 2025, Jafar Panahi’s Oscar-nominated movie honoured country with a dark history. Packed with breathtaking production, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s an incredible Iranian drama. At the centre of it all is Vahid Mobasseri, who embodies an enraged Iranian citizen. Although “It was Just an Accident” is a riveting Iranian drama, it isn’t a flawless film. It builds to an ambiguous conclusion without resolution. Nevertheless, it offers engaging entertainment for fans of Iranian Cinema.
Set in modern-day Iran, “It Was Just an Accident” tells the story of a Persian man haunted by an accident. Vahid Mobasseri portrays Vahid, a car mechanic seeking to escape a past that’s tragic. Vahid is determined to flee from a past of prison torture in his country. However, Vahid’s life forever changes when he meets his former prison tormentor. Feeling vengeful, Vahid seeks to punish a perpetrator that’s unforgivable. As the odds are stacked against his favour, Vahid questions whether revenge is the best solution to terror.
Jafar Panahi has always been fascinated with Iran. His award-winning film “The White Balloon” focused on a young Iranian girl’s journey to locate a lost goldfish that can’t be forgotten soon. With “It Was Just an Accident”, however, Panahi created his first Iranian crime thriller. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the lives of Iranian citizens seeking revenge in a war-torn country but he succeeded tremendously. Evoking Asghar Farhadi’s “A Separation”, Panahi effectively uses handheld camerawork to capture Iranian citizens that face oppression in a war-torn nation. For instance, handheld camerawork elevates the burial scene. During this unforgettable scene, Vahid shares memories of being tortured with his tormentor whom he buries. It brought back harrowing memories of an Iranian friend that told stories about his home country. Handheld camerawork is a tricky technique. As Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather” suggested, handheld camera elevates commemorated gangster movies. Nevertheless, it works immensely. Through stunning visuals, Panahi captures the frightening hardships that Iranian citizens are experiencing.
Another admirable aspect of “It Was Just an Accident” that merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, it’s one of the most impressive Iranian films you will see. Evoking Ben Affleck’s “Argo”, Panahi shoots in real-life Iranian locations to capture turmoil of the country. For instance, the real-life Iranian locales elevate the political discussion scene. During this unforgettable scene, Vahid delivers an emotional speech expressing frustrations with living in Iran. It reminded me of my friend’s feelings of hatred for a country that mistreated his father leaving him conflicted. Using real-life locales, Panahi creates a portrait of Iran that’s compelling. Moreover, the absence of music is magnificent. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing the burden that Iranian citizens bear. Through phenomenal production, Panahi captures a complex nation.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “It Was Just an Accident” is an Iranian film that’s engaging. In Hollywood, most movies about Iran rarely address its atrocities. For instance, Asghar Farhadi’s “The Salesman” depicted Iran as a peaceful nation where citizens don’t face oppression. Thankfully, however, “It Was Just an Accident” avoids these pitfalls. Evoking Denis Villeneuve’s “Prisoners”, Panahi effectively uses symbolism to capture the tensions prisoners of war in Iran experience. Throughout the movie, Eghbal’s peg leg represents a symbol of trauma faced by citizens in Iran. For instance, symbolism elevates the torture aftermath scene. During this unforgettable scene, Vahid has a tense argument with Eghbal over his squeaky peg leg. It reminded me of my friend’s conflicted attitude towards a country that he hated. Symbolism is a tricky technique. As Roberto Benigni’s “Life is Beautiful” suggested, symbolism elevates historical Holocaust movies. Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining” suggested that symbolism elevates classic horror movies. Nevertheless, it works immensely. Through a spectacular screenplay, Panahi captures a complex country today.
One appreciates astonishing performances.
Vahid Mobasseri delivers one of his best career performances as Vahid. Mobasseri first earned appreciation for playing heroes in Iranian dramas. With “It Was Just an Accident”, however, he took on his most complex role. It isn’t easy to portray an Iranian political prisoner in a war-torn country but he succeeds immensely. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and emotional in his most memorable role. With captivating expressions, he captures the angst, bravery and grief faced by a political prisoner in war-torn nations. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the finest Iranian actors today.
While the film is mainly a showcase for Mobasseri, the supporting cast is also amazing. Ebrahim Azizi is extraordinary, embodying an Iranian man facing abduction adversity. Mariam Afshari is magnificent, bringing wisdom to a female journalist battling terrorism. Lastly, Majid Panahi merits appreciation. As an angry Iranian man, he is unforgettable.
Despite its extraordinary performances, however, “It Was Just an Accident” can’t quite capture the complexity of a country with a flawed government. If there’s a minor shortcoming to the movie, it lacks an engaging ending. It’s a heavy-handed political conclusion that fails to bring the movie towards a resolution. Whereas this political ending elevated Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another”, it clashes with this film’s tone. At worst, it perpetrates the misleading message that Iran is a country in which people easily overcome traumatic damage. Therefore, “It Was Just An Accident” can’t honour a complex country that people adore.
Nevertheless, fans of Iranian Cinema will definitely appreciate “It Was Just an Accident” and so will movie-goers seeking educational entertainment. An incredible Iranian drama, it proves Cinema can honour a country causing trauma.
A captivating portrait of a commemorated country in which citizens are treated with cruelty, it’s a compelling reminder that stories of Iran are absolutely worth telling in memorable movies audiences love dearly.
As strong as Vahid’s desire to resolve an accident, it has incited me to move on several years after parting way with an Iranian immigrant that criticized his problematic government celebrating memories of a companion giving me greater insight into a commemorated country that deserves to be celebrated in entertainment.
4.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 