Monday Night Film Series presents IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT-FR

Event date(s): January 19, 2026
Time(s): 07:30 PM - 09:30 PM
Category: Fredericton
Location: Fredericton

The Monday Night Film Series presents "IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT", on January 19th Monday at 7:30pm at Tilley Hall, Room 102 at UNB. 

It Was Just an Accident is a quietly devastating psychological and political thriller that offers a powerful and urgent meditation on guilt, morality, and the ripple effects of chance. From acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, this Palme d'Or winner is celebrated by critics for its spare elegance, emotional force, and moral clarity. 

The film plunges audiences into subtle tension from the opening shots. It centers on Vahid, an unassuming auto mechanic and former political prisoner who recognizes the distinctive squeak of his former, sadistic torturer's prosthetic leg when the man arrives at his shop after a minor car accident. Acting on impulse, Vahid kidnaps the man, nicknamed "Peg Leg," intending to bury him alive in a remote desert location. When the captive denies the accusations, Vahid begins a dark, often absurd, road trip around Tehran to gather other former prisoners to confirm the identity. 

This journey forces the disparate group to debate whether to seek violent revenge or find a more humane form of justice, all while navigating the logistical challenges of hiding their prisoner. The narrative builds to a powerful, complex, and haunting conclusion, leaving the audience to question the true nature of justice and the lingering impact of systemic abuse long after the credits roll. Panahi masterfully keeps viewers in his grasp, crafting a controlled film about the unforeseen costs of our choices. 

Bursting with humanity and dark humor, it’s a sharply well-acted, written and directed modern thriller that grapples with urgently existential questions of justice, violence and resistance. Chase Hutchinson, Seattle Times 

It's a clever tale that wrestles with morality, asking pointed questions about how society can break a destructive cycle. So while it's thoroughly engaging, and often hilarious, the film is also bracingly timely. Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall 

The way Panahi blends suspense with dark humor is a skill we haven’t seen displayed so skillfully since perhaps the best days of Alfred Hitchcock. Sean P. Means, The Movie Cricket 

This term, 15 limited release, independent foreign & Canadian films will be shown. Admission is $10/film, but a film society membership reduces admission cost to $7/film. The series is open to all. Memberships are available at Tilley 102 every Monday night. 

For further info, contact NB Film Co-op 455-1632  info@nbfilmcoop.com https://www.nbfilmcoop.com/monday-night-film-series

The NB Film Co-op in partnership with the UNB Faculty of Arts and the Toronto Film Festival presents the series.

Building: Tilley Hall

Room Number: Room 102