Cannes Winner “A Simple Accident” Arrives in Theaters October 1st
Cannes Film FestivalS Palme d’Or winner, Jafar Panahi’s “A Simple Accident,” released in French-speaking theaters on October 1st, masterfully transforms a seemingly minor incident into a gripping thriller set against the backdrop of trauma within Iranian society.
The film centers on a man traveling with his wife and daughter who accidentally strikes a dog with his car.While stopping at a roadside station to borrow tools, he encounters another man who believes he has found the perpetrator of a past wrong.
This chance encounter unravels into a tense confrontation as the man attempts to exact revenge, initially threatening to bury his perceived tormentor alive. Doubt creeps in, leading him to seek confirmation from others who may recognize the man as someone connected to the repression of the Iranian regime. A gathering of former victims slowly forms, each confronting the possibility that this man coudl be their executioner… or not.
“A Simple Accident” marks Panahi’s twelfth feature film. Filmed without official authorization from the Islamic Republic, the director utilizes the escalating events following the accident to portray a complex mosaic of Iranian society grappling with the lasting scars of the mullahs’ regime.
Critics praise the film’s moral complexity and precise character growth, highlighting its powerful testimony to the horrors committed under the Islamic Republic.The awarding of the Palme d’Or at Cannes was widely anticipated,recognizing Panahi’s cinematic clarity and impactful storytelling.
Note: 5/5
Rafael Wolf/sf
“A Simple Accident” by Jafar Panahi, starring Vahid Mobasheri. In French-speaking theaters since October 1, 2025.
