Iran has summoned the French envoy in response to remarks by France’s foreign minister praising an Iranian film that won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival as “a gesture of resistance against the Iranian regime’s oppression.” The film, It Was Just an Accident, tells the story of a man who kidnaps his alleged torturer from prison.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot’s praise sparked a strong reaction from Iran’s Foreign Ministry, which called his comments “interventionist, irresponsible, and instigative,” according to the state news agency IRNA. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed France’s criticism, saying, “Spare us Iranians the lectures. You have no moral authority whatsoever,” while criticizing France’s stance on Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Last week, France threatened “concrete action” against Israel if it did not stop its offensive and allow humanitarian aid, but those warnings were largely dismissed internationally.
Following the award announcement, Iran’s state media offered a more restrained celebration of the win, noting that it was the country’s second Palme d’Or since Abbas Kiarostami’s Taste of Cherry in 1997. Iranian film productions require government approval to shoot in public, but It Was Just an Accident was made without cooperation from authorities. State TV labeled the film “a mixture of lies and smears” and criticized director Jafar Panahi for not mentioning the Palestinian situation in his acceptance speech.
The film’s plot centers on Vahid, who believes he has found his former captor and torturer. He kidnaps the man, but soon involves other former prisoners to confirm the identity, leading to an emotional journey grappling with themes of revenge and forgiveness. Panahi drew heavily on his own imprisonment experiences and those of others he knew.
Judiciary-linked media criticized the film’s Cannes win as politically motivated, calling the festival a “Political Cannes Film Festival” and suggesting the award was given because of Panahi’s political stance.
Meanwhile, pro-reform media and activists hailed the victory as a powerful statement for human rights and humanity. Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi, herself a former prisoner at Tehran’s Evin Prison, praised the film and Panahi’s dedication.
Panahi, a highly respected international filmmaker, has faced severe restrictions for years. Banned from traveling abroad since 2009 due to attending a protest-related funeral, he has been under house arrest but continued to make films, some shot under extraordinary conditions—such as This Is Not a Film filmed on an iPhone and Taxi, shot almost entirely inside a car.
In 2022, Panahi was arrested while inquiring about other filmmakers’ arrests. He was sentenced to six years in prison on earlier charges of anti-government propaganda but was released after a hunger strike in early 2023.
Despite the risks, Panahi has stated he will not seek asylum elsewhere, saying he cannot adapt to a new country or culture. Returning to Tehran from Cannes, he was greeted with cheers from supporters.
