I had the opportunity to watch this as part of the Muslim International Film Festival opening night in Toronto, weeks before its actual release in theatres here.
It is worth noting Jafar Panahi’s background, as it is quite significant here for understanding some of the context behind the story in this film. He was arrested multiple times and served much time in prison as a result of disapproval by the Iranian government over his work; his arrest in 2010 in particular had him in solitary confinement for a time, isolated away from being allowed to contact his own friends and family.
It’s hard not to read this and think about how that connects to the story of the film, where we follow our protagonist Vahid. He encounters a man nicknamed “Peg Leg” and kidnaps him after thinking him to be Eghbal, the intelligence officer who tortured him during his stay in prison. Earlier we see Peg Leg get into an accident – in line with the title of the film – where he runs over a dog. This opening scene is quite the tone-setter for the way things will unfold later on. There is this tension we see constantly throughout the film of getting away with one’s own wrongdoings – like killing a dog even if by accident – particularly those that are done in the name of capital punishment versus the need to seek out justice in the form of vengeance and retaliation as a result of said wrongdoing.
And that’s the thing – Vahid himself doesn’t know if who he has is the person who tortured him as he was blindfolded during the whole ordeal. He enlists a group of people he knows, particularly political dissidents like him as well. Hijinks ensue as even they are not totally sure, yet they agree to keep the man tied up and locked inside the wooden box while they figure it out. Panahi leans into the absurdity of the situation which sometimes leads to some very funny moments, more than I would have expected. Scenes such as Vahid looking exasperated trying to bury the supposed “Eghbal” while the man is crying out in the pit, or the security guards interrogating the group at a parking lot and the group having to pretend it’s for a wedding shoot got some of the biggest laughs in the audience (including myself) for sure.
It takes a very interesting turn once they find out the man himself has a family with a daughter and a pregnant wife. They rush the wife to the hospital as she starts going into labour while he is still tied up in the wooden box in the back of the van. A lot of moral questions arise, especially later on during the long-take scene where they tie him up to a tree. If he is not Eghbal, what then? If he actually is the Eghbal they were looking for, was it all worth it? Is it justifiable to commit another wrong, even if it is towards the man who has done many wrongs? Who is the real bad guy here – or could it be both sides?
It is eventually revealed that it was actually Eghbal, and the group leave him behind. They have gotten their vengeance and all seems well until that final scene with Vahid standing there, his back to the camera, never turning to look. While nothing appears to be happening in frame visually, we can hear the footsteps of who might be Peg Leg aka Eghbal himself (which sound unique given his artificial leg). Slowly approaching Vahid, then slowly we hear them fade. Almost like a ghost haunting Vahid no matter what he does or where he goes. The trauma still lingers, no matter what.
