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Secret Ballot (film)
Encyclopedia
Secret Ballot is an Iranian film from 2001
. It was directed by Babak Payami
. The film covers a day in the life of a female voting agent collecting votes on an island in Iran
.
The story begins at a small, two-man army post on a remote island. It is voting day, and an election agent is due to arrive by boat. A young woman arrives, collects the official voting box, and demands that the soldier on duty escort her around the island. They climb into a military jeep and begin driving around, looking for voters. The nameless woman is totally dedicated to her duty, a true believer in the importance of voting, a tireless worker, rather voluble and certainly not submissive. This confuses and angers the dim-witted soldier, who feels that a man should be the voting agent. Chador and all, she's clearly a liberated woman, a "city gal" as described by the soldier.
The couple-by-necessity do eventually (jeep trouble aside) scour the land to find eligible voters among the sparse locals. The trek starts in a desert and gradually moves to somewhat greener places. It is educational for both parties. They encounter a variety of people (mostly illiterate peasants) and situations, which simultaneously instructs the two roamers and the audience. By the end of the film, only a few people have voted, and the young woman is largely disillusioned about the entire process. Several people refused to vote for the "approved" candidates, and one voted for her. There is an undercurrent of an unspoken silent affection having developed between her and the soldier.
although it is not mentioned in the movie. In fact the setting looks like a semi-barren landscape that could be a mainland or an island. There, by the sea, on a desert beach, two soldiers stand guard against smugglers. Apparently, the locals are not particularly fluent in Persian
, the national language of Iran, with some speaking in gulf dialect Arabic. On several occasions, the election agent is frustrated by the language barrier. Also, it is implied that a number of foreign nationals (fishermen, pedlars) are present on the island—they are not eligible to vote, of course. The locals are very strict Islamists; some of the women even wear face masks in public. Women are completely submissive to the wishes of their men, and will not vote unless given permission.
A serious natural, sly, or tongue-in-cheek humor emerges in this realistic, ethnographic, patriotic work that is quite outspoken which stresses isolation
, not poverty
. And it is not bound by politically correct limitations. The city girl, commenting on the minimum voting age, says of a local "She can marry at 12 but she cannot vote."
The girl is fanatical about the importance of everybody having the opportunity to cast a vote, contrasted to the soldiers near indifference. He sees no real point, and some of the islanders agree with him. Yet others go to great lengths to find her. They live in a remote rural area with unpaved roads, little electricity, and few cars, and Payami is using the various people that the two meet to show some of the different views on the democratic process and life in general. One woman is young enough to wed, but not old enough to vote. Some people disagree with the entire list of candidates, and others feel it is wrong for women to vote at all. The negative experiences are enough to test the girl's unwavering confidence in her beliefs, and her conviction is enough to cause the soldier to question his indifference.
Director Payami uses minimalism
in Raye makhfi, letting a small spectrum of sociopolitical stances emerge naturally, and often humorously. For instance, there is a traffic light in the middle of a desert, but it is stuck on red.
Payami also has a pronounced use of long shots (avoiding close-ups in favor of vistas, framing people and sights at a distance) and long takes with shooting scenes continuously for three minutes or more. This directly impacts upon the mood in the film.
2001 in film
The year 2001 in film involved some significant events, including the first of the Harry Potter series and also the first of The Lord of the Rings trilogy...
. It was directed by Babak Payami
Babak Payami
-Biography:Born in Tehran in 1966, Baback Payami studied cinema at the University of Toronto during the early 90's. In 1998, he returned to Iran after an almost two decade to produce and direct his debut "One More Day" or “Secret Ballot”. This flim describes what happens on election day when an...
. The film covers a day in the life of a female voting agent collecting votes on an island in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
.
Plot summary
The couple-by-necessity do eventually (jeep trouble aside) scour the land to find eligible voters among the sparse locals. The trek starts in a desert and gradually moves to somewhat greener places. It is educational for both parties. They encounter a variety of people (mostly illiterate peasants) and situations, which simultaneously instructs the two roamers and the audience. By the end of the film, only a few people have voted, and the young woman is largely disillusioned about the entire process. Several people refused to vote for the "approved" candidates, and one voted for her. There is an undercurrent of an unspoken silent affection having developed between her and the soldier.
Overview
Ra'ye makhfi was filmed entirely in Kish Island, a resort island in the Persian GulfPersian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
although it is not mentioned in the movie. In fact the setting looks like a semi-barren landscape that could be a mainland or an island. There, by the sea, on a desert beach, two soldiers stand guard against smugglers. Apparently, the locals are not particularly fluent in Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
, the national language of Iran, with some speaking in gulf dialect Arabic. On several occasions, the election agent is frustrated by the language barrier. Also, it is implied that a number of foreign nationals (fishermen, pedlars) are present on the island—they are not eligible to vote, of course. The locals are very strict Islamists; some of the women even wear face masks in public. Women are completely submissive to the wishes of their men, and will not vote unless given permission.
A serious natural, sly, or tongue-in-cheek humor emerges in this realistic, ethnographic, patriotic work that is quite outspoken which stresses isolation
Solitude
Solitude is a state of seclusion or isolation, i.e., lack of contact with people. It may stem from bad relationships, deliberate choice, infectious disease, mental disorders, neurological disorders or circumstances of employment or situation .Short-term solitude is often valued as a time when one...
, not poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
. And it is not bound by politically correct limitations. The city girl, commenting on the minimum voting age, says of a local "She can marry at 12 but she cannot vote."
The girl is fanatical about the importance of everybody having the opportunity to cast a vote, contrasted to the soldiers near indifference. He sees no real point, and some of the islanders agree with him. Yet others go to great lengths to find her. They live in a remote rural area with unpaved roads, little electricity, and few cars, and Payami is using the various people that the two meet to show some of the different views on the democratic process and life in general. One woman is young enough to wed, but not old enough to vote. Some people disagree with the entire list of candidates, and others feel it is wrong for women to vote at all. The negative experiences are enough to test the girl's unwavering confidence in her beliefs, and her conviction is enough to cause the soldier to question his indifference.
Director Payami uses minimalism
Minimalism
Minimalism describes movements in various forms of art and design, especially visual art and music, where the work is set out to expose the essence, essentials or identity of a subject through eliminating all non-essential forms, features or concepts...
in Raye makhfi, letting a small spectrum of sociopolitical stances emerge naturally, and often humorously. For instance, there is a traffic light in the middle of a desert, but it is stuck on red.
Payami also has a pronounced use of long shots (avoiding close-ups in favor of vistas, framing people and sights at a distance) and long takes with shooting scenes continuously for three minutes or more. This directly impacts upon the mood in the film.
Cast
- Nassim Abdi as Girl
- Cyrus Abidi as Soldier
- Youssef Habashi
- Farrokh Shojaii
- Gholbahar Janghali
Awards
- In 2001, the film won:
- the FIPRESCI Prize - Special Mention at the London Film FestivalLondon Film FestivalThe BFI London Film Festival is the UK's largest public film event, screening more than 300 features, documentaries and shorts from almost 50 countries. The festival, , currently in its 54th year, is run every year in the second half of October under the umbrella of the British Film Institute...
- the Special Jury Award at the São Paulo International Film FestivalSão Paulo International Film FestivalThe São Paulo International Film Festival is a film festival held annually in São Paulo, Brazil since 1976. In 2004 Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami was a member of the jury.-International Jury Award:*2001: The New Country ...
- the Best New Director at the Valladolid International Film Festival
- the Netpac Award, the OCIC Award, the Pasinetti Award (Best film), the Special Director's Award and the UNICEF Award at the Venice Film FestivalVenice Film FestivalThe Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
- the FIPRESCI Prize - Special Mention at the London Film Festival
- and was nominated for the Golden Spike (Valladolid IFF) and the Golden LionGolden LionIl Leone d’Oro is the highest prize given to a film at the Venice Film Festival. The prize was introduced in 1949 by the organizing committee and is now regarded as one of the film industry's most distinguished prizes...
(Venice FF).- In 2002, the film won
- the Jury Award at the Newport International Film Festival
- Special Mention at the Rotterdam International Film Festival
- In 2003, it was nominated for the PFS Award (Democracy) at the Political Film Society, USA.
- In 2002, the film won