It Was Just an Accident (2025)
Justice is no accident.
Presentation:
If you’re not familiar with Persian filmmaking, it’s pretty barebones as a result of crushing regulations and censorship. This film is hyped by content creators because the director was served a jail sentence for criticizing the regime in this film - an accolade that comes with the territory of Iranian filmmaking. It’s only groundbreaking if it’s the first time you’ve heard of it, but a lot of Iranian directors deal with similar issues and even have to smuggle the film out of the country like for The Seed of the Sacred Fig. As a result a lot of the movie is filmed discreetly within a van or at a distance, which may not be very visually impressive for blockbuster enthusiasts. There’s one scene where you can even see the crew help push the van. Like most Persian films, the lack of budget means the focus is on script and performances. It’s not as good as other Iranian films I’ve covered, but it’s not terrible either. Some of the anger doesn’t feel particularly convincing, perhaps as a result of the objective framing and drags on for certain parts. What’s really striking is how it deals with story structure and suspense, constantly referencing a boogeyman but not explaining it. The evil is presented like how black holes are observed - unseen but we feel its presence by how it affects the rest of the universe. Overall, it’s a worthwhile watch and something different from your usual viewing.
Conclusion:
What’s great about this director is how he conveys deep frustration with his country and the corruption that goes on in it. It was really interesting to see how other parts of the world cope with their own social problems, which I found relatable to my own circumstances. It’s also just a really interesting story structure, delaying gratification for half of the film until we slowly fill in the pieces, making this almost like a mystery thriller. Good, though I don’t know about great, you may still find your love for Persian cinema to be more than an accident.
Recommendations
Justice is no accident.