Hirschfield International Film Series: It Was Just An Accident

November 13th, 7pm, Dana Auditorium
Come at 6:30pm for free pizza, popcorn, and snacks!

“It Was Just An Accident”
directed by Jafar Panahi, 2025

Vahid, an unassuming mechanic, is suddenly reminded of his time in an Iranian prison when he has a chance encounter with Eghbal, a man he strongly suspects to be his sadistic jailhouse captor. Panicked, Vahid rounds up a few of his fellow ex-prisoners to try and confirm Eghbal’s identity. Master filmmaker Jafar Panahi creates a deeply felt moral thriller, where high stakes tension combines with unexpected flurries of humor and thoughtful, sometimes devastating questions regarding persecution and revenge.

“Panahi welds scorching social critique to a masterful command of form: a devastating cry for justice, his latest also serves as a superb thriller. It is a towering achievement.” - The Film Stage
“It’s a cry from the heart, a comic howl in the dark and one of the year’s essential movies.” - The New York Times
“Subtly plotted like a good thriller, the movie slowly but surely builds into a stark condemnation of abusive power and its long-lasting effects.” - The Hollywood Reporter

Sponsored by the Hirschfield Film Endowment and the Film and Media Culture Department.