Sydney Film Festival 2025 - Film Review - It was just an accident

It was an accident film still

Iranian director and screenwriter, Jafar Panahi has brought an Iranian style road movie to the screen broaching a subject with an intense moral dilemma but one which many people in many conflict zones must confront. What does the a victim of torture do, if the opportunity to take revenge against their tormentor inadvertantly becomes possible ?

This moral dilemma is presented clearly in this film with the story commencing late one night when a worker recognises the owner of a broken down car as being the intelligence agent who had tortured him many years previously when he was arrested for a protest. The worker takes it upon himself to track down the agent and kidnap him with the intention of exacting revenge. Having completed the abduction, the worker finds self doubt creeps into his actions and he then seeks out other victims of the agent (including a soon-to-be-married bride) to verify he has abducted the correct man and then to resolve what to do. The reactions of the different victims who are now confronted with this situation forms the bulk of the film.

Panahi adds some comedic relief to the film in parts which lessens the intensity of the storyline, nevertheless the choice between forgiveness and retribution remains the central focus. As a film maker Panahi has also experienced the power of the Iranian state having his films banned and being imprisoned himself.

'It was just an accident' was awarded the Sydney Prize by the festival jury at the 2025 Sydney Film Festival. The film also won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2025.

Evaluation:

Production values: 9/10

Narrative and direction: 10/10

Cast: 8/10