It Was Just An Accident — NYFF Review

Written By Lexi Amoriello
Two men and a woman in the desert. There's a van with the back door open and one of the men and the woman are sitting on the edge of the van. The woman is in a wedding dress.

Source: NEON

Jafar Panahi’s Palme d’Or-winning It Was Just An Accident is a masterclass in balancing tonal extremes. The film shifts between humor and rage with remarkable dexterity. Panahi injects a surprising amount of levity into a story that’s both dark and devastating, striking a pitch-perfect balance that keeps the audience laughing, engaged, and unsettled in equal measure. It Was Just an Accident is a captivating, darkly hilarious, and thought-provoking exploration of the futility of revenge and the vicious cycle of vengeance it perpetuates.

The screenplay is riveting, carefully divulging just enough information to draw viewers in without revealing too much too soon. Each scene unfolds with precision, revealing character motivations and plot developments at a measured pace that sustains both tension and intrigue. The editing plays a crucial role in shaping the film’s tone by cutting at exactly the right moments to catch a character’s reaction, land a joke, or underline the absurdity of a situation.

A group of people standing. Two men are wearing uniforms implying they are security guards. The other people looks suspicious. One is wearing a tuxedo. The man next t him is crouching down. And there is another man and a woman next to them.

Source: NEON

The film begins with a man named Eghbal (Ebrahim Azizi) driving with his pregnant wife and young daughter in the car when he accidentally hits a dog. Needing his engine repaired, he walks into a garage where mechanic Vahid (Vahid Mobasseri) is working. Vahid, who was once a political prisoner, recognizes the squeaking sound from Eghbal’s prosthetic leg, identifying him as an intelligence officer who tortured him in prison. It’s an exceptional hook because the film humanizes the antagonist by depicting him with his family before we’re even introduced to our protagonist. We immediately learn a great deal about these nuanced characters in just two brief scenes.

What sets the plot in motion is Vahid’s spur-of-the-moment decision to kidnap Eghbal and exact his revenge. But he begins to have doubts because he was blindfolded in prison and never saw his torturer’s face. He drives his van around and visits other former prisoners in hopes of getting their help to identify Eghbal. As more and more people end up in the van, it begins to feel almost like a clown car, and one can’t help but laugh at how ludicrous the situation becomes. However, despite the absurdities, the film still feels plausible and remains grounded in reality.

A group of people standing at the back of a van. A man and woman are seated in the back of the van while two men and a woman in a wedding dress are standing outside the van.

Source: NEON

It Was Just an Accident is clearly a deeply personal film for Panahi. Beneath the film’s riotous humor lies a scorching rage. The anger simmers, slowly bubbling up as the film progresses. The performances are powerful, deeply emotional, and effectively capture that raw, visceral fury as well as pent-up trauma.  

It raises fascinating questions about revenge, empathy, and morality. The film begs the question, who should we direct our anger at? The system? The individuals complicit in that system? Both? It Was Just an Accident is an audacious and powerful film, full of wit, humor, political commentary, and a searing rage that gradually sneaks up on you, culminating in an emotional gut punch.

It Was Just An Accident had its New York Premiere at the New York Film Festival on October 2, 2025. It will be released theatrically on October 15th.

Lexi Amoriello

Lexi is a writer, editor, and Webby Award-nominated content creator. You can find her on social media under the name Movie Recs By Lex, where she provides customized movie recommendations based on people’s Letterboxd accounts. She also reviews new releases, does deep dives about classic films, and creates a variety of film-related content. She’s the founder of the NJFCC, as well as a member of the HCA, Galeca, IFSC, OAFFC, and Film Independent. 

https://movierecsbylex.com
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