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Iranian
Film Uses Humor to Examine Politics
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By
Ali Asadullah |
01/01/2003
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Title:
Secret Ballot
Distributor: Sony Picture Classics
Year: 2002
Genre: Comedy
Video Release: January 7, 2003
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Babak
Payami takes an offbeat look at the development of democracy in Iran. |
In
recent years, the rapidly growing Iranian film industry has seen its films reach
increasingly broader audiences, with a number of movies finding popularity in
the West. Often times these films take deep, dramatic, introspective looks at
life in contemporary Iran. To certain degree, one might call the current state
of Iranian film “brooding”; and for good reason – Iran has seen its share
of hard times over the two decades.
But
it would be wrong to think that Iranian filmmakers lack the ability to reach
beyond the more dramatic genres. Babak Payami proves this with his most recent
film, Secret Ballot, which takes a decidedly humorous and somewhat offbeat look
at the democratic process in his homeland.
The
film’s opening scene is reminiscent of the opening of 19XX critically
acclaimed movie, The Gods Must Be Crazy, in which a Coke bottle falls
from a passing airplane and causes a stir amongst the African tribespeople below
who don’t know what to think of the new cultural artifact. In Secret Ballot,
the cultural artifact isn’t bottle of soda pop; but rather a ballot box
dropped by government election officials on a desert island off the coast of
Iran.
The
soldier who finds the box isn’t sure what to think of it; but all becomes
clear when he is ordered to accompany a polling official and the box as they
make their way around the island giving residents – sometimes for the first
time – and opportunity to vote. However, the soldier is surprised to find that
the election official is a woman of very outspoken and opinionated character. So
together with two new additions to his worldview, the soldier makes his way from
place to place.
What
Secret Ballot slyly does is provide a range of perspectives on the burgeoning
democracy of Iran, where the concept has features of western democracy but has a
entire set of functions and constraints that are unique to Iran. Babak
accomplishes this through the use of the various characters the soldier and his
charge encounter. Some are excited about the prospect of voting. Other show some
apprehension toward the new convention. Still others seem somewhat apathetic.
In
providing this range of perspectives, Babak shows that democracy isn’t the
simple, cut-and-dry institution the West often advertises. In fact, creating a
working democratic process is quite complex, as is the implementation of any
other governmental system. Furthermore, democracy is not always the panacea
societies hope for. Babak’s characters bring all this to the fore for all to
ponder.
The
buzz around Secret Ballot has been strong and the film has received numerous
honors on the independent film festival circuit. The greatest indication of the
quality of the film, however, came at the Toronto International Film Festival
where it was the first film chosen by Sony Picture Classics for distribution.
Some
critics have noted that the film’s long and often laboring shots make it
difficult for audiences to stay engaged. However, Iranian film has never been
for the faint of heart, and unlike American cinema, it rarely relies on intense
action or other attention grabbers. Iranian film has always been more subtle and
introspective, and as such Secret Ballot lives up to the tradition. But for
those patient enough to sit through the rough spot, this film provides a wry and
often witty examination of the good and the bad of the most popular contemporary
political trend.
Secret
Ballot is playing a various art house theaters across the United States. For
show times, please consult local listings. Additionally, the film will be
released to video in January of 2003. A trailer of the film can be viewed at http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony/secret_ballot.html.
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