It Was Just an Accident, winner of the prestigious Golden Palm in Cannes, by Jafar Panahi, is a comical yet hard-hitting thriller about oppression and revenge, showing how one small mishap can trigger a chain reaction of ever-growing problems.
Genre: crime, drama, thriller
Language: Persian, subtitles: English
Length: 1 hr 43 mins
Vahid is working in the garage when a customer comes in with car trouble. He is stunned when he thinks he recognizes Eghbal, the officer who tortured him in prison. He scent of revenge hangs in the air, but doubt quickly creeps in. Together with group of fellow sufferers, Vahid desperately tries to uncover the truth. Their search leads them into situations that range from risky to downright absurd. How can they be sure they have the right man?
Director Jafar Panahi was himself sentenced to six years in prison and banned from making films. Drawing on his own experiences, he made It Was Just an Accident after his release , shot without permission of the Iranian regime. His film has been unanimously acclaimed abroad, as Panahi exposes the frayed edges of human existence with sober, razor-sharp precision.
Awards
Winner of the Golden Palm at Cannes, the film has since amassed 52 award nominations and 19 wins worldwide.
Reviews
“Bursting with humanity and dark humor, it’s a sharply well-acted, written and directed modern thriller that grapples with urgently existential questions of justice, violence and resistance.” Seattle Times
“If anyone has the right to make a revenge fantasy, it’s Jafar Panahi. And yet, this movie isn’t that. Panahi doesn’t make statement films; he makes question films, designed to instigate soul-searching and debate.” Washington Post
“Once you arrive at the ultimate destination — a primal, furious cinematic scream at all the injustices that have happened in Iran and throughout the globe — you will never forget it. This is essential viewing and essential filmmaking.” San Jose Mercury News
Ticket information
This film will be shown at Filmhuis De Zwarte Doos.
- Tickets must be purchased online in advance and can be bought by clicking the black “Order” button on this page.
- Cash or card payments are not accepted at the ticket counter.
For more information about tickets, refund policies, and other details, click here.
Please be on time
The screening of the film begin promptly at 19:30 (with no pre-film advertisements), and the cinema hall will open at 19:10. We kindly request that you arrive at the ticket counter at least 10 minutes before the start of the film to ensure a smooth and timely experience for all.
The Studium Generale film program is created in collaboration with the Student Film Committee and Natlab.