In Simple Accident

It begins with the titular incident. A car breakdown on their way home forces a married couple with a young daughter to pull into a roadside repair shop. There, they encounter two mechanics, one of whom offers to help. The other is Vahid, who watches everything from a distance.

The man is a former political prisoner who was detained as a result of anti-government protests. The torture he was subjected to during interrogation had a serious impact on his health, causing him pain with every step he takes. In the unexpected visitor, Vahid recognizes his tormentor, an Iranian police commissioner known to prisoners as Lame Leg. In an act of revenge, he decides to kidnap him, hoping that it will bring him relief. First, however, he will have to confront his doubts, starting with whether this is really the right man, and ending with the dilemma of whether revenge is an appropriate form of redress.    

Repressed Iranian director Jafar Panahi returns with a film that, like his previous works, takes a strong swipe at the authoritarian regime. At the same time, it is also a poignant humanistic reflection on the themes of trauma, forgiveness, and morality.

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