It Was Just an Accident

Grade: A-

It Was Just an Accident begins by introducing and establishing a family that I assumed would be our main characters (the father in particular). Then, a few minutes into it, someone I thought would be a one-scene supporting player turns out to be the primary person we follow. It takes a little while for the film to reveal to us why this new guy is so important in the story – not to mention why he’s acting so strangely. Even though I knew what the deal was, because I’d already read a plot summary online, I was intrigued by the way it takes its time to lay everything out.

It begins with a family of three driving late at night. The father accidentally hits and kills a dog, and it’s bad enough to make the car stall. When visiting a nearby garage to have it repaired, the father’s voice and squeaking prosthetic leg catches the attention of Vahid, a mechanic. It’s eerily familiar to him. A man who mercilessly tortured Vahid in an Iranian prison – nicknamed Peg Leg by the inmates – had a walk that sounded just like the family man with the broken down car. He thinks it’s the man who tormented him and his friends for years.

The next day, Vahid stalks and kidnaps the man. Of course, he denies being this person. While talking to him in the midst of getting ready to bury him in the desert, Vahid begins to have doubts. He knocks the man out, and puts him in the back of the van, carting him around town to have various people he did time with take a look and identify him (or not). The tricky part is everyone was blindfolded while these acts took place. All they have to go on is the voice and squeaking prosthetic leg.

From here, It Was Just an Accident ramps up into the disaster dilemma, akin to the great darkly comedic crime thrillers of the 1990s – like Fargo, Very Bad Things, and Reservoir Dogs. There is no score, nor are there flashbacks, but the actors paint the picture so well with their words, as they recount what it was like. Questions race around in their heads. They understandably want revenge, but if they kill this guy, wouldn’t it just bring them down to his level? How would it make them any better? Not to mention: what if they are mistaken and the guy they’re keeping captive ISN’T the guy? It’s a quandary for sure.

The climax is all one long shot, and it’s awesome. To think that if something went wrong and they had to reset for another take, it’s back to ground zero for the full emotional roller coaster again. This isn’t an open-ended situation like Anatomy of a Fall. The question that was on our minds the entire time does get answered. It doesn’t seem consistent with something we saw earlier, but I’m happy to have received an answer. The last sound effect we hear – and it continues into the end credits – is chilling, and brings home a statement, in no uncertain terms. I would love to see an American remake of this movie one day, but not because this one is bad or insufficient. Quite the opposite. I liked it so much, that I’m already hoping to one day see it done again, with a different crew – like seeing a new production of a great play.

Grade: A-