With Un simple accident (original title Yek tasadef sadeh), Jafar Panahi returns with a new feature film showcased in official competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where he took home the Palme d’Or. Written and directed by the renowned Iranian filmmaker, the movie is set to hit French theaters on October 1, 2025. The cast includes Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, and Ebrahim Azizi.
This Cannes victory marks a major milestone in Jafar Panahi's career, making him the only director in history to have won the top awards at all the world's major international festivals: the Camera d'Or at Cannes (The White Balloon), the Golden Leopard at Locarno (The Mirror), the Golden Lion at Venice (The Circle), the Golden Bear at Berlin (Taxi Téhéran), and now the Palme d'Or.
Iran, today. A man unexpectedly encounters someone he believes was his former torturer. Confronted with this family man who vehemently denies ever having inflicted harm, doubt begins to take root. From this seemingly ordinary encounter, the film Unfolds a story exploring traumatic memory, revenge, and the struggle to move on.
While driving, a family hits a dog. The young girl starts to cry, the veiled woman sees it as a sign from God, and the father remains stoic. It might not seem like a big deal, but this incident marks the beginning of Jafar Panahi's latest film, A Simple Accident, which is competing in the Official Selection at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
While the incident mentioned in the title occurs right at the start—during an elusive scene whose tone and framing unsettle the viewer—the film by the Iranian filmmaker follows the butterfly effect: beginning with this seemingly insignificant moment to explore a much more complex and layered story.
The man who accidentally hurt the poor creature is forced to take his car to the nearest garage. There, he is recognized by the distinct squeak of his prosthetic leg by Vahid. The mechanic is convinced he’s not the caring family man the opening scene suggests, but rather a regime inspector, the torturer who subjected him to months of imprisonment.
Once again, Jafar Panahi demonstrates extraordinary courage. After being silenced in 2010 and then reimprisoned between 2022 and 2023, he continues to boldly expose the current Iranian political regime. His second stint in prison, shared with fellow inmates, directly inspired his latest film.
Vahid chooses to kidnap the man he believes he recognizes and drags along a cast of characters, all former prisoners, tasked with confirming — or denying — the identity of their alleged tormentor. They find themselves crammed into the back of a van, in a crowded, confined space that unexpectedly yields moments of dark humor, despite the seriousness of the subject.
The film constantly shifts its tone, playing with contrasts. Jafar Panahi weaves in moments of unexpected humor, particularly in a scene set in a hospital where Vahid, mistaken for the newborn's father, is tasked with buying cakes to celebrate the occasion. These fleeting moments of levity serve to underscore, through contrast, the brutal reality of detention and
Suddenly, laughter turns to fury. The final midnight interrogation, shot under the harsh glow of headlights, marks a dramatic shift in tone of unprecedented impact. Until the very last image, which is purely auditory, chilling, evoking a deep, lingering fear without diminishing in intensity.
Shot secretly and without official permission, Un simple accident continues Jafar Panahi’s tradition of resistance cinema. True to his approach, the director demanded full commitment from his cast, blending experienced actors with non-professionals, and chose to credit everyone involved in the credits, despite the dangers involved.
A Simple Accident
Film | 2025
Release in theaters: October 1, 2025
Drama | Runtime: 1h44
Directed by Jafar Panahi | Starring Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi
Original title: Yek tasadef sadeh
Country: Iran
With this Palme d’Or, Un simple accident firmly establishes itself as a significant work in contemporary political cinema. Blending suspense, dark humor, and moral reflection, Jafar Panahi continues his artistic fight to give voice to those the system seeks to silence.
To keep the cinematic experience going, check out the October movie releases, discover the must-see films currently playing, and browse our pick of this year's most compelling dramas.
