It Was Just an Accident

Featuring a similiar setup to Death and the Maiden, writer/director Jafar Panahi's film focuses on a small group of former Iranian political prisoners who believe they have found their man responsible for their torture during their captivity. Filmed in secret without approval from the Iranian government, It Was Just an Accident offers a harsh look at the scars left by an authoritative regime while questioning what justice may be found in revenge.

Starting with the impulsive mechanic Vahid (Vahid Mobasseri) identifying the man he believes to be Eghbal (Ebrahim Azizi) due to the sound made by his prosthetic leg, Vahid kidnaps him later having doubts about whether or not he has found the right man. Connecting with strangers, who were also tortured by Eghbal, the eclectic group of our mechanic, a photographer (Mariam Afshari), a bride (Hadis Pakbaten) and groom (Majid Panahi), and the even more impulsive Hamid (Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr) struggle to get to the truth and decide what to do with their prisoner.

There are several smart choices here including making Vahid a stranger to the other prisoners leading to their initial distrust. As unforseen circumstances concerning their captive's family come to light, the group (already fracturing on what action to take with the man they can't prove is Eghbal) is faced with hard decisions. It's not easy to push a group of kidnappers into honestly struggling with doing the right thing, but Panahi manages this brillaintly.

Before the end of the film truth about their captive will be decided, as will his fate, however here is one of my minor complaints with the film as choosing to reveal whether or not the man kidnapped could be Eghbal removes much of the moral ambiguity, where the film lives and breathes, while forcing a more straightforward solution. That said, the final scene (which would still work without the audience or characters knowing the truth) is pitch perfect allowing for one final chill down your spine before the film fades to black.

• Title: It Was Just an Accident
• IMDb: link