It Was Just an Accident
Yek tasadof-e sadeh
Un simple accident



Directed by Jafar Panahi
Produced by Philippe Martin and Jafar Panahi

Written by Jafar Panahi

With: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr, Delmaz Najafi, Afssaneh Najmabadi, and George Hashemzadeh

Cinematography: Amin Jafari
Editing: Amir Etminan

Runtime: 103 min
Release Date: 01 October 2025
Aspect Ratio: 1.85 : 1
Color: Color

Jafar Panahi's latest plays like a dark hybrid of Death and the Maiden and Little Miss Sunshine. An auto mechanic suspects a random customer of possibly being the man who tortured him during his time as a political prisoner. Acting on instinct, the mechanic kidnaps the man and then seeks confirmation from his former POWs before going any further exacting revenge. I can't say it all plays out logically, but it's riveting and tonally exhilarating.

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How I Rate Films



An All-timer. One of the 5000 greatest films. Usually only awarded after repeat viewings.



One of the year's best. An excellent film. Possibly one of the 5000 greatest and certainly worthy of repeated viewing.



A very good film. Most films I see fall in the two- or three-star ranking. I give an extra half-star to three-star films that could end up on the list of the 5000 greatest.



A good film that fully succeeds at what it sets out to accomplish. Well worth seeing, but less effective than a three-and-a-half stars films and often less consequential than a two-and-a-half star film.



A noteworthy or enjoyable film that I can’t fully recommend. Still, two-and-a-half star films are often some of the most memorable films of a year.



A disappointment, an interesting failure, or just a bad movie. But still worth seeing if you’ve got the time.



A bad, rant-worthy film. Should be avoided regardless of hype or talent involved.



One of the worst films.