After receiving the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival, Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, who was previously imprisoned and prohibited from creating films in his own country, spoke out against the regime’s limitations.
It Was Just an Accident, which BBC Culture characterised as “a furious but funny revenge thriller that aims at oppressive regimes,” won Panahi the coveted Palme d’Or. As he asked Iranians to “set aside” disagreements and issues, he was applauded.
“What’s most important now is our country and the freedom of our country,” he stated. “Let’s work together. Nobody has the right to dictate to us what we should or shouldn’t wear, do, or not do. In 2023, Panahi was released from his final prison sentence for demonstrating against the arrest of two other filmmakers who had been critical of the government.
After a lengthy travel prohibition, he first appeared at an international festival in 15 years during his journey to Cannes. Partly inspired by Panahi’s personal experiences in jail, It Was Just an Accident was filmed secretly.
Before going to jail and getting to know the people I saw there and learning their stories, about their lives, the issues I dealt with in my films were different,” the filmmaker told the Hollywood Reporter.
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