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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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