Standing before a tearful audience Saturday night, Panahi—who spent years under house arrest and filmmaking bans in his homeland—clutched the golden palm as acclaimed actress Cate Blanchett presented the award for his clandestinely shot film "It Was Just an Accident."
"Let no one tell us what to wear, what to do, or what films to make," Panahi declared to thunderous applause, his words resonating far beyond the glamorous French Riviera setting.
The political ripples were immediate and far-reaching. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called the moment a "symbolic act of resistance," imprisoned Nobel Peace Laureate Narges Mohammadi praised Panahi from her cell as a "brave and distinguished director" whose work deepens human values through art.
Perhaps most striking was the unifying effect across Iran's fractured political landscape. Prince Reza Pahlavi, heir to Iran's former monarchy, and political prisoners in Tehran's notorious Evin Prison found common ground in celebrating Panahi's achievement.
Meanwhile, inside Iran, state-linked media outlets responded with predictable hostility. One conservative daily dismissed the honor with the headline "Palme d'Or Turns to Rust," while another branded Panahi an "Iran-seller" participating in a "political show."
The film itself—shot without government authorization and defying mandatory hijab laws—is a testament to artistic resistance. As Panahi left the Cannes stage, his parting words captured the essence of his struggle: "I dream of an Iran where artists are not silenced, where truth has no borders, and where no one lives in fear for telling a story."
Photo: Wikipedia Commons