By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.25 cats
Director: Jafar Panahi
Starring: Ebrahim Azizi | Hadis Pakbaten | Majid Panahi | Mariam Afshari | Vahid Mobasseri
Original language title: Yek tasadef sadeh
Year: 2025
Running time: 103
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36491653
Cobi says: “A deeply human film with more humor — even occasional slapstick — than I expected. Knowing it was made in the shadow of political imprisonment gives it added weight, but it stands firmly on its own. The film quietly suggests how different people carry trauma — some through humor, some in stillness, some by holding tightly to others — without ever underlining the point.
“At its core, it’s a road-trip movie about strangers who slowly become something like a family. The emotional reveal near the end is powerful but slightly rushed; I wanted more time with the whole group processing it. Still, the ending is thoughtful and lands beautifully. I left in awe of Panahi’s courage as a storyteller working under real threat and excited to watch more of his films. 4.25 cats”