Watch and Learn - Jafar Panahi - "It Was Just An Accident"

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Welcome sir.

Welcome sir

I am such an enormous fan of your work.

I am such an enormous fan of your work

It is trenchant, brave.

It is trenchant brave

You've been banned from making filmmaking for 20 years, yes?

You've been banned from making filmmaking for 20 years yes

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

I had a 20-year sentence that banned

me from making films, writing scripts, and traveling abroad.

me from making films writing scripts and traveling abroad

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

I was watching your show now.

I was watching your show now

If you say 0.01 of what you just said in Iran,

If you say 001 of what you just said in Iran

the sentence will be execution.

the sentence will be execution

I would be killed?

I would be killed

It's--

It's-

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

Because in our films, we don't even get

Because in our films we don't even get

to 0.01 of what you said here.

to 001 of what you said here

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

There are many Iranian filmmakers

now who are in prison.

now who are in prison

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

And in the past two months that there were protests,

And in the past two months that there were protests

one of our filmmaker friends got killed.

one of our filmmaker friends got killed

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

You're dealing with a state, with a regime

You're dealing with a state with a regime

that will not allow you to even say 0.01 of what you just said.

that will not allow you to even say 001 of what you just said

Right.

Right

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

And people are on the street now

because they want to reach a point that they

could criticize anyone.

could criticize anyone

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

But they will not even tolerate a peaceful protest.

But they will not even tolerate a peaceful protest

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

And that's why they start shooting people en masse.

And that's why they start shooting people en masse

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

And committing mass murders.

And committing mass murders

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

I'm sorry if I messed up the mood of your show.

I'm sorry if I messed up the mood of your show

[LAUGHTER]

LAUGHTER

Not even close.

Not even close

I'm in-- I'm in awe of your courage.

I'm in- I'm in awe of your courage

You're right.

You're right

We often take for granted even the most--

We often take for granted even the most-

our fear is we're heading in the wrong direction,

our fear is we're heading in the wrong direction

in terms of being censored and those types of things.

in terms of being censored and those types of things

But so clearly, our perspective is warped.

But so clearly our perspective is warped

Because in our country, freedom is--

Because in our country freedom is-

we consider it a birthright and settled law and will--

we consider it a birthright and settled law and will-

and why we fight so hard to preserve it

when we see it threatened, which is why you were,

when we see it threatened which is why you were

I think, such a real hero of mine.

I think such a real hero of mine

So you were banned from making films.

So you were banned from making films

So what you did is you made a film called This Is Not a Film.

So what you did is you made a film called This Is Not a Film

[LAUGHTER]

LAUGHTER

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: It's not really about being a hero.

INTERPRETER: It's not really about being a hero

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

When you talk about heroism, you have to say,

When you talk about heroism you have to say

compared to what?

compared to what

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

Is it compared to the person who's been

in prison for 10 or 15 years?

in prison for 10 or 15 years

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

Then I've only been in prison for a few months.

Then I've only been in prison for a few months

[SPUTTERING] But--

SPUTTERING But-

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

But you've been in prison.

But you've been in prison

They imprisoned you for making movies.

They imprisoned you for making movies

And your answer was, how do you like this movie?

And your answer was how do you like this movie

[LAUGHTER]

LAUGHTER

[SPEAKING PERSIAN] I've just tried to do my job.

SPEAKING PERSIAN I've just tried to do my job

But that's-- the fact that you feel compelled--

But that's- the fact that you feel compelled-

and you could live anywhere.

and you could live anywhere

When you're-- you're here for the award season.

When you're- you're here for the award season

You'll go to LA.

You'll go to LA

Where will you go after that?

Where will you go after that

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

Iran.

Iran

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Wow.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Wow

[APPLAUSE]

APPLAUSE

That's what I mean.

That's what I mean

Now, to be clear, I'm not crazy about LA either.

Now to be clear I'm not crazy about LA either

So I understand if the choice is--

So I understand if the choice is-

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

It's just my country.

It's just my country

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

JON STEWART: How was your--

JON STEWART: How was your-

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: Half of my being is there.

INTERPRETER: Half of my being is there

My family is there.

My family is there

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: And I lived there permanently until three,

INTERPRETER: And I lived there permanently until three

four months ago, when I came out

four months ago when I came out

because of the Oscar campaign.

because of the Oscar campaign

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

My son, my mother, my brothers,

My son my mother my brothers

my sisters, my colleagues-- everyone is there.

my sisters my colleagues- everyone is there

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

When half of you is there, then how could you be out?

When half of you is there then how could you be out

See, this is--

See this is-

what I'm noticing in America now--

what I'm noticing in America now-

and it may seem quaint when--

and it may seem quaint when-

you said it earlier.

you said it earlier

How can I be a hero if other people

have been imprisoned longer?

have been imprisoned longer

And we think here what rights we may be fighting for

seem quaint comparatively to the mass murdering

of the mullahs and the terrible censorship

and the way it lives.

and the way it lives

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

But what I think breeds optimism and hope

is what you just said, which is you love where you're from.

is what you just said which is you love where you're from

And as hard as it is, you fight to create the kind of world

And as hard as it is you fight to create the kind of world

that you would rather live in in the place

that you love, with the people that you love.

that you love with the people that you love

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: People will resist in any form or way.

INTERPRETER: People will resist in any form or way

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: I resist with the kind of work I do,

INTERPRETER: I resist with the kind of work I do

and someone else might resist in another form.

and someone else might resist in another form

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: In the past-- in the past 45 days,

INTERPRETER: In the past- in the past 45 days

in that mass killing, which happened only in two days,

in that mass killing which happened only in two days

and in fact, only in 10 hours, about 40,000 people got killed.

and in fact only in 10 hours about 40000 people got killed

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: And of course, people were shocked,

INTERPRETER: And of course people were shocked

and they went into sorrow and a state of mourning.

and they went into sorrow and a state of mourning

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: Then the regime even banned mourning.

INTERPRETER: Then the regime even banned mourning

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

But people found a way around that.

But people found a way around that

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

And they started dancing on the graves of their loved

ones and their children, and they played

ones and their children and they played

music and dance to that music.

music and dance to that music

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

They're elementary school kids

or they're children who were about to get married.

or they're children who were about to get married

They came up with the dance of death.

They came up with the dance of death

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

But it wasn't death.

But it wasn't death

It was a form of life.

It was a form of life

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

What I'm trying to say is that everyone

will find a way to show the resistance, even in death.

will find a way to show the resistance even in death

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

I too will find a way in my job to work and to resist.

I too will find a way in my job to work and to resist

And I know that that resistance will come with a price.

And I know that that resistance will come with a price

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: So I'm not doing anything extraordinary.

INTERPRETER: So I'm not doing anything extraordinary

What people are doing is much bigger than what I'm doing.

What people are doing is much bigger than what I'm doing

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: Because I am a socially engaged filmmaker,

INTERPRETER: Because I am a socially engaged filmmaker

I am a witness.

I am a witness

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: I witnessed the time period--

INTERPRETER: I witnessed the time period-

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

--and what happens in my society and around me.

-and what happens in my society and around me

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: I'm not doing anything extraordinary.

INTERPRETER: I'm not doing anything extraordinary

I'm not giving any particular opinion.

I'm not giving any particular opinion

What I'm doing is witnessing what I

have seen in this time period.

have seen in this time period

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: And the people of my country

have accepted that they will have

to pay a price because they love their country

and they want to live in it.

and they want to live in it

But that, sir, is what's so moving to me, I think,

But that sir is what's so moving to me I think

is the idea that for you to just live a human experience

that I take for granted every day as an act of utter

defiance is--

defiance is-

it shows you what you would consider the ordinary

are capable of when pushed.

are capable of when pushed

And to see it in your work-- and I think

And to see it in your work- and I think

the film really explores that.

the film really explores that

Your film-- and I assume that it is influenced by your time

Your film- and I assume that it is influenced by your time

in Evin Prison, which is the terrible, notorious prison.

in Evin Prison which is the terrible notorious prison

I assume that it's this journey of five people who

had been tortured, four that have been tortured

had been tortured four that have been tortured

and the other along for the ride, each one

and the other along for the ride each one

representing, it seems, a different way

representing it seems a different way

of processing that trauma.

of processing that trauma

Is that what you were expressing

through this, just an observation of what that trauma

through this just an observation of what that trauma

had done for people?

had done for people

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: In fact, this was not my experience alone.

INTERPRETER: In fact this was not my experience alone

It was my experience and the other prisoners.

It was my experience and the other prisoners

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: When a prisoner of conscience

enters the prison system, the first thing they do

enters the prison system the first thing they do

is they interrogate that person.

is they interrogate that person

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: Without having an attorney,

INTERPRETER: Without having an attorney

they will give you a piece of paper and a pen,

they will give you a piece of paper and a pen

and they will blindfold you and put you in front of a wall.

and they will blindfold you and put you in front of a wall

And you will have to respond to the questions

that a person behind you asks.

that a person behind you asks

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: At that moment, it is your auditory sense

INTERPRETER: At that moment it is your auditory sense

that works most.

that works most

Your other senses don't really engage.

Your other senses don't really engage

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: And what your thinking

is whether or not you're going to recognize

this person outside jail.

this person outside jail

What your thinking is, how old is this person?

What your thinking is how old is this person

What does this person look like?

What does this person look like

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: And what am I going to do

if I encounter this person?

if I encounter this person

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: This is a question constantly.

INTERPRETER: This is a question constantly

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: And it is a collective experience.

INTERPRETER: And it is a collective experience

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: And when you go into a public ward,

INTERPRETER: And when you go into a public ward

then you meet other prisoners.

then you meet other prisoners

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: And you always talk to them every day.

INTERPRETER: And you always talk to them every day

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: Some people have been incarcerated

for 5 or 10 years.

for 5 or 10 years

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: They just talk because it's pastime.

INTERPRETER: They just talk because it's pastime

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: When I was talking to them,

INTERPRETER: When I was talking to them

I really was not thinking that one day I'm

going to make a film about it.

going to make a film about it

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: But the day that the gates opened and

I was released, I turned around for a second,

I was released I turned around for a second

and I saw that big wall behind me.

and I saw that big wall behind me

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: And I asked myself, what

INTERPRETER: And I asked myself what

is it that I'm doing outside?

is it that I'm doing outside

My friends are still in there.

My friends are still in there

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: That's when I thought

that there was a burden weighing heavy on my shoulders.

that there was a burden weighing heavy on my shoulders

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: And it kept getting heavier by the day.

INTERPRETER: And it kept getting heavier by the day

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: Until the day that I couldn't tolerate carrying it

anymore and I had to unburden.

anymore and I had to unburden

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: So to put that burden down,

INTERPRETER: So to put that burden down

I asked myself, what can I do?

I asked myself what can I do

And I realized I have to make a film about them.

And I realized I have to make a film about them

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: A film about that collective experience and

about those stories that I heard from every single one

of those people.

of those people

The result became this film.

The result became this film

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: And in fact, it wasn't my fault.

INTERPRETER: And in fact it wasn't my fault

It was the fault of that burden that kept getting heavier.

It was the fault of that burden that kept getting heavier

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: And that burden is that duty.

INTERPRETER: And that burden is that duty

It's that social duty of the filmmaker.

It's that social duty of the filmmaker

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: You might feel a burden about the future

of your country.

of your country

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: And anyone going against the law

or trying to hurt the law, you might want to try

or trying to hurt the law you might want to try

to say what you need to say.

to say what you need to say

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: And that would be putting that burden down.

INTERPRETER: And that would be putting that burden down

But in my country, putting that burden down is a crime.

But in my country putting that burden down is a crime

And many people were incarcerated for it.

And many people were incarcerated for it

But you did something, I think,

But you did something I think

in your work that really demonstrated,

in your work that really demonstrated

that showed the difference between humanity

and authoritarianism.

and authoritarianism

And that is doubt.

And that is doubt

Your characters, one of the main threads through it

Your characters one of the main threads through it

is they're not sure if this is the man

who tortured them in prison, and they

who tortured them in prison and they

wrestled with their doubt.

wrestled with their doubt

And it's what made you realize they had retained what

made them human, because the authoritarian regime has

made them human because the authoritarian regime has

only certainty and treats people not as individuals.

only certainty and treats people not as individuals

It didn't matter if they were guilty or

innocent in this prison.

innocent in this prison

They're just-- they're nothing.

They're just- they're nothing

But your characters still maintain their humanity

to look at this torturer and want

to see him as an individual.

to see him as an individual

And by showing that, I can't tell you

And by showing that I can't tell you

how it articulated and illuminated what it means

to be free and to be human.

to be free and to be human

And one of the most interesting things

is when the one gentleman, as soon as he saw his captor,

is when the one gentleman as soon as he saw his captor

he reached down, and he felt his leg to feel the scars,

he reached down and he felt his leg to feel the scars

to make sure that those were the scars

that while blindfolded, he had felt before to know

that while blindfolded he had felt before to know

if this was the man or not.

if this was the man or not

It's so beautifully done, sir.

It's so beautifully done sir

Thank you for the work.

Thank you for the work

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: Thank you.

INTERPRETER: Thank you

We only have two types of filmmakers in the world.

We only have two types of filmmakers in the world

JON: Now you've got to tell us the types.

JON: Now you've got to tell us the types

INTERPRETER: [SPEAKING PERSIAN]

INTERPRETER: SPEAKING PERSIAN

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: 95% are filmmakers who are

INTERPRETER: 95 are filmmakers who are

after what the audience wants.

after what the audience wants

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: Meaning they adapt their taste

to the taste of the audience and they give

the audience what it wants.

the audience what it wants

And I'm talking about everywhere around the world,

And I'm talking about everywhere around the world

not just in Iran.

not just in Iran

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: But another 5% says, this is how I look,

INTERPRETER: But another 5 says this is how I look

and now it's on the audience to come and find me.

and now it's on the audience to come and find me

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: And where you're not

going with the taste of the audience,

going with the taste of the audience

and you're just going according to your own taste,

and you're just going according to your own taste

you will not anything-- you will not

you will not anything- you will not

allow anything to dictate you.

allow anything to dictate you

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: You will not allow anyone

to tell you what to make.

to tell you what to make

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: And that's when you will make the reality.

INTERPRETER: And that's when you will make the reality

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: And in fact, in that reality,

INTERPRETER: And in fact in that reality

everyone is a human being.

everyone is a human being

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: And you will have a humanistic look on everyone.

INTERPRETER: And you will have a humanistic look on everyone

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: There is no purely good or purely evil person.

INTERPRETER: There is no purely good or purely evil person

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: But we only have dysfunctional systems.

INTERPRETER: But we only have dysfunctional systems

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: And it is that dysfunctional system that

has divided people as such.

has divided people as such

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: This comes from this is a characteristic

of a socially engaged cinema.

of a socially engaged cinema

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: A humanistic look on everybody.

INTERPRETER: A humanistic look on everybody

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: And to a future in which the cycle of violence

comes to an end.

comes to an end

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: So it is a choice.

INTERPRETER: So it is a choice

It's a choice of what kind of films to make

and what group to belong to.

and what group to belong to

[SPEAKING PERSIAN]

SPEAKING PERSIAN

INTERPRETER: When you're in the 5% category,

INTERPRETER: When you're in the 5 category

it will automatically tell you how to see things,

it will automatically tell you how to see things

how to look at people, how to see the world.

how to look at people how to see the world

JON: Thank you.

JON: Thank you

Thank you.

Thank you

Thank you for being an artist.

Thank you for being an artist

Thank you for being in the 5%.

Thank you for being in the 5

And thank you for making art that

fills us with the possible.

fills us with the possible

Truly.

Truly

Jafar Panahi.

Jafar Panahi

It Was Just an Accident is now streaming on Hulu.

It Was Just an Accident is now streaming on Hulu

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