What It’s About
When family man Eghbal (Azizi) has car trouble, he wanders in to a garage, giving mechanic Vahid (Mobasseri) a shock. His new customer walks and sounds just like the sadistic guard who tortured him in prison years ago. His thirst for vengeance awakened, Vahid kidnaps Eghbal, who claims he’s not the man in question. A sliver of doubt planted, Vahid seeks out other victims to corroborate Eghbal’s true identity, including photographer Shiva (Afshari) and feisty bride-to-be Golvokh (Pakbaten). Even if this rag-tag group manages to identify him, what then?
Why We Love It
Master director Panahi’s riveting drama explores whether an act of righteous revenge can lessen the trauma of dissidents brutally punished for opposing Iran’s regime. Can it be justified? The unexpected odyssey these former activists take to get at the truth-and the right course of action- is by turns comical and grimly serious. Panahi makes the whole adventure as colorful as it is revealing. Winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes, this absorbing “Accident” is a must-see.