#jafar-panahi

#jafar-panahi

First, they take up It Was Just an Accident, the Cannes Palme d'Or-winning film by Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi. Inspired in part by Panahi's own experience being imprisoned for critiquing the Iranian government, his new film-made in secret from the regime- holds back little in its sharp political critique, rage, and... a surprising amount of comedy. Not surprising in its amount of comedy- but maybe in its frequently anti-authoritarian politics-is Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!

It Was Just an Accident centers on a group of former prisoners who kidnap a man they believe was their interrogator and grapple with whether to exact revenge, and Panahi says the film drew directly from his own experience with state violence and repression. Panahi has been repeatedly arrested in Iran, served prison sentences, and was recently sentenced in absentia to an additional year in prison and a two-year travel ban.

Back to selectionInternational titles dominated at last night's Gotham Awards, with films from Iran, France, the UK and Ireland, including one that was entirely Lagos-shot, winning seven of ten competitive categories. Jafar Panahi, who, it was revealed by his lawyer shortly before the event, has been sentenced in absentia to one year in prison and a two-year travel ban for engaging in "propaganda activities" against the state, was on hand to accept awards for Best Director, Best International Feature and Best Original Screenplay.

I didn't expect this, actually, Anderson said on stage. I started to think I didn't know what was going on.

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