“It Was Just an Accident,” Jafar Panahi’s Palme d’Or winner at Cannes 2025, delivers a masterful ending that will surely be remembered in the history of both Iranian and world cinema. This striking conclusion brilliantly masks the film’s shortcomings, making them feel almost irrelevant. Although the performances can seem uneven and the narrative unfolds through symbolic slogans set against sweeping desert landscapes, the film weaves in a distinctive humor—born from the irrational choices of characters bent on revenge during interrogations with uncertain identities. This interplay creates a compelling tension. The fragmented cuts and seemingly aimless storylines, which at first might…
Author: Narges Samadi
Narges Samadi
Narges Samadi, born in Iran, is a former emergency physician with over twenty years of experience in Tehran. Following her immigration to Canada, she transitioned into the field of cinema studies, culminating in her recent graduation from the Cinema Studies specialist program at the University of Toronto. Currently, she is the founder of “Narges Cinema House” in Toronto, which serves as a venue for film screenings, education in film history, and the production of critical writings.
The film “Sex” is the first part of a trilogy by Norwegian director Johan Haugerud, created last year. This film presents a different narrative on infidelity, a topic that has always been one of the fundamental challenges in human relationships. The story revolves around two male colleagues who continue their old job of cleaning chimney flues; a profession that takes on new meaning within the context of modern towers and apartments, illustrating the clash between tradition and modernity. The film focuses on the lives of two middle-class families; simple yet capable families engaged in respectful conversations about the boundaries of…