Dissident Iranian director Jafar Panahi struck a chord with “It Was Just an Accident,” one of his most political movies, and his first film since being released from jail in Iran.
And behind this wall, all these other loved ones, all these people remained behind this wall,” he said.
He wasn’t alone in his emotion — “It Was Just an Accident” left many audience members wiping away tears as well.
“It Was Just an Accident” is also his first film since his travel ban was lifted after 14 years.
Arrested by Iranian authorities in July 2022 after signing an appeal against police violence, Panahi spent several months behind bars.
“It Was Just an Accident,” one of the filmmaker Jafar Panahi’s most politically charged films and his first since being freed from Iranian prison, touched a nerve. The film, which marks his return to the Cannes competition seven years after “Three Faces,” received a standing ovation that lasted almost eight minutes during its Tuesday premiere.
Panahi gave an impassioned speech after the thunderous applause subsided, expressing his sense of guilt at being released from prison and paying respect to the filmmakers currently incarcerated in Iran. “I noticed a very tall wall when I turned around. And all these other loved ones, all these people, all these people stayed behind this wall,” he said. So I pondered how, if they were still inside, I could feel content and free. “.”.
“Today, I’m here with you, and I receive this joy, but I feel the same emotion,” he added. When so many of Iran’s greatest filmmakers and actresses are still barred from the workforce because they supported and participated in the Femme Liberté movement, how can I be happy and free while I’m in Iran?
Well-liked on Variety.
Panahi was speaking while wearing dark glasses, and his voice was trembling. He wasn’t alone in feeling this way; many people in the audience were also crying when he sang “It Was Just an Accident.”.
“It Was Just an Accident,” which was filmed in Iran without a permit, shows anti-hijab women as a sign of defiance against the restrictive Iranian law. “It Was Just an Accident” is also his first movie since his 14-year travel ban was lifted.
Variety called the film a “punchy thriller,” and Cannes critics have praised it. According to the review, “Panahi can’t help but make art, emerging fired up and ready to fight back.”. The Variety review remarked that the film’s ensemble cast is “assembled almost like the diamond thieves in ‘Reservoir Dogs’ post-heist to point fingers and dispense justice.”. “.”.
Although Panahi did not attend the Cannes Film Festival, his 2021 documentary “The Year of the Everlasting Storm” had Special Screenings. His 2018 movie “Three Faces” took home the best screenplay award. The politically active actress Juliette Binoche is on the jury for the Cannes film “It Was Just an Accident,” which is poised to win an award there.
Considered one of the greatest auteurs in Iranian cinema, Panahi has won awards for “The Circle,” “Offside,” “This is Not a Film,” “Taxi,” and “No Bears.” He also won the 2022 Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival. While “Offside” took home the Silver Bear in 2006, “Taxi” took home the Berlin Golden Bear in 2015.
Panahi spent several months in jail after being detained by Iranian authorities in July 2022 for signing an appeal against police brutality.
Les Films Pelléas, the production company that worked on “Anatomy of a Fall,” collaborated with Panahi to produce “It Was Just an Accident.”. Pio and Co. and Bidibul Productions co-produce it.
