So, France has decided that the only way to win their first Oscar in 30+ years is to select an Iranian film that has practically nothing to do with France.
That’s right, Jafar Panahi’s “It Was Just An Accident,” the Palme d’Or–winning film, will represent France in the Oscar race. It beat out “Nouvelle Vague,” “A Private Life,” “The Little Sister,” and “Arco.”
Quite honestly, I think it’s going to win International Feature. Of course, it helps that it’s a strong film, and Panahi’s most “accessible” effort in years, but the narrative surrounding it will be too irresistible for Academy voters.
A few years ago, Panahi was imprisoned for his art and sentenced to six years in an Iranian prison. He served two of those years before being released in 2023 following a hunger strike. Instead of laying low, he immediately started working on “It Was Just An Accident,” which might be the most critical film he’s ever made against Iran’s government.
The film tackles a man convinced he’s found a government torturer from his past, and assembles a small, desperate group to confront him. Together, they face a harrowing moral dilemma: how to balance justice, revenge, and survival.
Panahi’s return to Cannes marked a powerful comeback, met with warmth, emotion, and critical acclaim. He won the Palme d’Or. Ever since, he’s been festival-hopping, from Telluride to Toronto, where admiration for the film has only grown.
As far as I can tell, Panahi’s biggest competition will come from Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value,” Park Chan-wook’s “No Other Choice,” Kaouther Ben Hania’s “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” and Kleber Mendonça Filho’s “The Secret Agent.” However, at the moment, it’s France’s Oscar to lose.
Here’s the list of all the films submitted so far for the best international film Oscar.