With the war in Iran raging, the Oscar-nominated drama It Was Just an Accident (4 ¼ stars on 0-5 scale) is on my mind again. It’s one of the best movies of 2025. The story illustrates the evil Iranian regime of the now-dead ayatollah. Kudos to Iranian writer-director Jafar Panahi, who defied the odds and the authorities to make the movie.

Regardless of how one feels about the war, let’s hope we can all root for a day when Panahi and other Iranian filmmakers enjoy the freedom to make whatever film they choose in their home country without fear of imprisonment or retaliation.