Secret Ballot (2001) User Reviews

appealing Iranian film

[CineRobot · 7/10 · 12 July 2002]

I liked Secret ballot. It's similar to most Iranian films (even though it was written/directed by an Iranian/Canadian from Toronto) as it takes this wildly simplistic idea and then forms a story around it.

Secret Ballot is about a lot of things: the chaotic election process in Iran, the women/men relationships there, the isolation of rural areas and the role of women in Iranian society. That's four, you could probably find more if you wanted. A woman college age shows up at an outpost remote from cities and people and takes a sloth like soldier along looking for people willing to vote. It's harder to find voters than she thinks it might be as a lot of folks just don't want anything to do w/ the woman or casting a vote for the democracy that she touts ceaselessly. Secret Ballot has a good deal of sly, quiet moments and its this intelligent astuteness that I liked the most about it. I also enjoyed the harsh, remote terrain the film is set. The entire cast is full of non-pros who have never acted before and they do a fine job and are natural throughout. I especially liked the soldier who seems almost catatonic he's so slow talking. This is a very typical Iranian film: simple, slowish, extremely long and drawn out takes and full of non actors and real people. Plus it's a sly satire that has its own charms.

Film is also about Iran's Arab minority

[tonebone · 7/10 · 6 September 2003]

I thought I'd add another comment to the mix of comments made about this film, which is that this film also tackles the issue of Iran's treatment of its Arab minority. This minority lives primarily in a western province called khuzestan (borders w/iraq), and along the western coastline, where the island portrayed in the movie happens to lie.

Most of the local inhabitants that the election official meets speak Arabic, some dont even speak Farsi (like the man in Granny Naghoo's compound). Being semitic, they have different physical appearances from the iranians, who are indo-european. And their customs are more similar to the arabs on the arab side of the persian gulf.

In addition to making points about democracy and about gender issues, Secret Ballot is also about the distance of Iran's central government from its Arab minority, seeming to be out of touch with their customs, their concerns, and their issues.

Incidentally, this theme of how Iran deals with its minorities is also addressed in Baran (Majid Majidi), but in that case it's about Iran's Afghan minority.

Congratulations to Babak Payami for a wonderful little gem of a movie.

Superb

[ian_harris · 8/10 · 19 October 2002]

This is a superb film. Almost plotless, but far from pointless, this film really made us think about what democracy means in a society where the democratic political institutions are so slight.

The young female voting agent is excellent, transforming, as her day on Kish proceeds, from fresh faced idealist to drawn pragmatist. Her soldier guard, by way of contrast, is barely touched by what he sees, he's kind of seen it all before.

The traffic light in the middle of nowhere is surely symbolic of the futility of such democracy, as well as surrealistically very funny.

Avoid this film like the plague of you need action, glamour or twist in your movies, but if you want to be thinking about a film for days after seeing it, Secret Ballot is a great one to see.

Cute but a little too in your face...

[ozoz2000 · 7/10 · 22 April 2002]

I saw this at SF International Film Festival. I liked the pace of the story. The democracy desire of the female voting agent is almost tangible, with her constant running around and pleading people to vote. The soldier was played so well, I was shocked to learn that he was not a professional actor.

Sometimes the metaphors were a little too obvious: how military and democracy play against each other at times, how it is futile to vote where laws don't mean anything. But it was definitely a well-spent 100 minutes giving you a slice of the Iranian culture.

But I have to recommend "The Circle" if you would like to see Iranian movie at its best.

Mildly entertaining.......

[butterfinger · 30 October 2004]

Films that have new ideas to put on the table are always welcomed. So many filmmakers today feel like the only way they can express their sincere views and emotions is to format these ideas and emotions into a cliché structure. It is good to know, however, that a relatively new filmmaker named Babak Payami can express his thoughts in a story that has never been told before. The film Secret Ballot is a about 'a girl' (Nassim Abdi) who travels through some islands off the coast of Iran with a guide (Cyrus Abidi) meeting random people and marking down their votes for election day. Half the people she meets do not even know who the candidates are; she has to explain their tell them about the candidates for five minutes before they vote. Payami uses the girl's quest for votes as a jumping off point for the greater question of the value of democracy and uses the relationship between the girl and the guide as a jumping off points for questions about feminism in Iran. The commentary on feminism is funny and so are the scenes where the girl is collecting random peoples' votes but to use such a terrible voting system as a way to question the value of democracy is a bit like using the characters from Lord of the Flies as a way of questioning the value of children-the excellent story in this film really doesn't make up for the phony message. I'm unimpressed by Payami's terribly indulgent visual style; if a film is going to have self-indulgent visuals, their should at least be something to indulge in, but I can't say that this is the case for Payami's images. This is the kind of mildly entertaining film that might be not be worth seeing at the movie theatre, but, if you're bored, you could catch on television one day (billions of years from now when they decide to put Iranian films on television.)

Excellent foundation, slow moving

[lafusee · 7/10 · 29 June 2005]

I really enjoyed the movie, I found there to be a lot of depth in what would seem at first like a shallow scene. Like the previous commenter said, there is a lot of visually appealing content, and beautifully framed shots. There are a couple of obvious blunders that, although cheapen the acting a little, give it a much more humble, true to life appeal. I am not a big fan of Hollywood though, so it was right up my alley. I also really enjoyed the sort of "all access" peek into what this culture is like, and I actually learned a couple of things. Overall, the movie takes place in what seems like nearly real time (even though that is not possible); really, overall, it spans about 9 hours of a single day. I found the dialog to be a tad bit short (somewhat confusing at times), but most likely its just authentic if anything. Like the summary says, it's a great concept and it's got some great high points, but for many people it might just move too slowly to keep their attention.

An election movie that deserves your vote

[KuRt-33 · 8/10 · 12 September 2003]

For what it's worth, if I'd been head of programming, I wouldn't have shown this film around 2 p.m., even though these days it seems we just should be glad to see this sort of film on TV in the first place. Set your video recorders if it's shown again. I know I will, if only because I missed the first 20 minutes.

Secret Ballot (or Raye Makhfi) is the story of a woman who travels to an island to get the inhabitants' votes. A soldier is told to accompany the election agent while she does her job. At first he's surprised to find out she's a woman, but they learn to appreciate each other.

Even though the political and feminist points of the film are powerful, in the end it's the visual style that's the biggest reason one should stay watching. There's a lot of candy you can treat your eyes to, from the camera work to the nearly surrealistic scenes (the ballot box dropping, the traffic lights).

Directed by Babak Payami and from an idea by the legendary Iranian director Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Secret Ballot may lack essential elements to be called a masterpiece, but it's a very good movie with visual flair and a message that should be heard. It should be seen.

Struggle for democracy

[stensson · 6/10 · 18 August 2002]

Iranian films proceeds to work within the system altogether with the amount of system attacks that might be aloud in that country. That means that the directors have to work with small means. You've got to be attentive as audience, which is rather easy, because the tempo is slow.

This is the story of a female election official, who tries to make the reluctant citizens on a small Iranian island to go voting. It isn't easy in a society there someone wants to vote for God and the women aren't aloud to look on photographs of male candidates.

There are few real characters here, mainly types, and that also goes for the election official and her accompanying soldier. The most interesting question is what kind of society Iran really is, when you have to be so careful in your films.

Surreal

[kolster · 8/10 · 19 January 2003]

"Secret Ballot" certainly takes its time with each scene, but is quite satisfying by the end. It is as close to surrealism as I've seen recently. The music during the credits is beautiful.

A true gem

[timelord-3 · 7/10 · 14 July 2002]

While slow moving, Secret Ballot is a delightfully wry look at the absurdity of voting, and the often harrowing futility of government. Following a dim witted guard and the election official he has been charged with protecting on Election Day, we see the official's increasingly futile attempts to get a largely apathetic group of locals to realise that voting makes a difference.

Set against centuries of tradition, local conditions and voter indifference Secret Ballot is a movie with its tongue firmly planted in cheek, while at the same time highlighting some very real problems with government. Its lessons not only apply to the situations in the movie, but the viewer can draw interesting parallels to any system of government around the world.

A tad long - especially with the DOP's penchant for lingering long distance shots that keep the viewer at arms length for some possibly interesting scenes, Secret Ballot is however though an interesting film with something to say.

thought provoking

[ferreldk · 5/10 · 11 November 2006]

_Secret Ballot_ is an important film and even a surprising one, with its not so subtle message of voting equality for all. The protagonist is likable and so is her sidekick, the soldier/begrudging escort. The scenery is wonderful as are the insights into a culture that is so seemingly disparate from ours in the US.

I also thought the film was subversive in many ways and was surprised it got past the strict censorship that governs the film industry in Iran. _Secret Ballot_ clearly asserts the importance of female equality, and the sexist soldier even exemplifies his respect for her at the end of the movie in a scene that is sweet and touching.

There also seems to be the slightest hint of romantic feelings between the two. At first, the ballot collector rides in the backseat of the car, but at the movie's end, she is riding in the passenger's seat. When the ballot collector stops midway to the airplane to give one last look to the soldier, it is a wistful moment. These "feelings" seem to be reciprocated by the soldier when in the last frames, that are almost identical to the first, the soldier/escort tells his pal that he will go on guard duty, because "he cannot sleep" anyway.

Still, the pacing of this film is very slow, and at times I could understand why some claim it verges on boring. It is a movie that is probably more significant and thought provoking than enjoyable.

Not really a comedy, but really worth seeing!

[Red-125 · 10/10 · 12 May 2003]

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Red-125 Upstate New York

Date: 12 May 2003 Summary: Not really a comedy--democracy starts here.

Secret Ballot [Raye makhfi (2001)]is another Iranian film about a strong, determined young woman. As written and directed by Babak Payami, the film is far more than a comedy. This movie takes us through a day on an almost- deserted island, where two bored soldiers are stationed on the beach to watch for smugglers.

Suddenly a large box is dropped by parachute. Inside are a ballot box and orders directing the soldiers to accompany and assist an election agent. The soldier--played well by Cyrus Abidi--is astonished when he learns the agent is a woman.

Nassim Abdi, who plays the agent, has a difficult part, made more difficult by the fact that she must communicate her emotions to the viewer while swathed in the forbidding garments required for women--even election agents-- in this Muslim land.

The plot of the film involves the interaction between the agent and the potential voters she meets on the island, as well as her interaction with the young soldier.

The Secret Ballot is an intensely moving, sometimes humorous, sometimes sad movie. Secret Ballot is not your lightweight Hollywood road movie. It is a glimpse into another culture, and into the hearts and minds of two people who are doing their best to lead moral and productive lives in a situation where this goal is not easy to accomplish.

Plodding, Pointless, & Preachy

[rhorton3 · 1/10 · 19 September 2003]

After sitting through this film, I have to wonder if the many accolades and awards this movie has received are a case of the Emperor's New Clothes; i.e., it's Iranian, so it must be good no matter what it really looks like.

The film plods along at an agonizingly slow pace. Many shots are several minutes in length with little movement. But instead of making a point, these scenes just feel as if the Director was trying to find a way to stretch out the film. (The filmaker's equivalent of using 14 point font on a term paper.) At one point a scene with significance for future scenes is shot from such a distance that the people are mere specks and you are left spending the next ten minutes trying to figure the major plot hole this long distance scene just created.

Nearly all the scenes amount to obvious, and vaguely preachy metaphors about the importance of voting. Instead of letting a scene speak for itself, the woman vote collector has to make some preachy statement every time. Even more grating, the soldier accompanying the vote collector speaks ever single line in a monotone as if he is reading his lines off a cue card.

This film is billed as a comedy, yet there is nothing remotely funny in the 100 minutes of the film.

Perhaps much of the humor and nuances of language are lost in a poor translation from Farsi. However, after seeing and being highly impressed by "Kandahar", I tend to think this is just not a good film.

Save your money and 100 minutes of your life for something more worthwhile than this film.

relaxed thought provoking film

[cs_weaver · 10/10 · 13 May 2005]

You can't help but love the tenacity of this lady, it is very interesting to see how this contrasts with the personality of the solider and how all of that together makes a comment about politics, law and life. Once you move away from the hustle-bustle of the city and have the time and space to think, much of what we view as social necessity is absurd, and this film makes that point. I love the directing, it is very relaxed and slow, like life on the island, it makes the lady seem all that more out of place.

Its a very unique and well thought out film, to be appreciated most by contemplatives.

If you know of other films like this and want to recommend them my email address is cs_weaver @ yahoo .com

A Charming Civics Lesson About Bringing Democracy To the Mideast

[noralee · 8/10 · 15 October 2005]

"Secret Ballot (Raye makhfi)" should be required viewing in every class in the country that deals with civics, government, and social studies (it wouldn't hurt the kids to read the subtitles). And it wouldn't hurt for policy makers who mouth off about allies while ignoring lack of democracy to see this too.

The story is simple -- an idealistic government agent is sent to get as many votes as possible by 5 pm on a desert island (I didn't even know Iran has such islands, let alone that they are populated.) The agent is accompanied by a resentful, cynical soldier.

On this unique road trip of a scavenger hunt they each are changed in subtle ways by each other and the wide variety of characters they meet up with who deal with their first exposure to them, to voting and to a secret ballot in a variety of complex ways that are beyond American experiences.

The movie vividly demonstrates the physical,logistical, psychological, political and social challenges of bringing some semblance of democracy to other cultures, let alone to the Mideast. While the amateur actors keep this from having an emotional Hollywood satisfaction so it feels more like a docudrama/comedy, their reality (including the obvious censorship restrictions) brings it all home anyway.

(originally written 9/2/2002)

Lightweight but charming comedy

[howard.schumann · 19 May 2003]

On Election Day on a remote island in the Persian Gulf, an airplane drops a parachute containing a ballot box filled with registration materials and ballots. A soldier (Cyrus Abidi) retrieves the material but is astonished when he discovers that the official who arrives to run the election is a young woman (Nassim Abdi). The official (unnamed) is an outspoken idealist who believes that voting can give citizens the opportunity to make a difference, while the soldier does not see any value in it. Secret Ballot by Babak Payami is a lightweight but charming Iranian film about the frustrations an election official encounters while attempting to collect votes in a place where there is no tradition of democracy. In this case, the official's problems are compounded by the fact that she is a woman in a male-dominated society and must combat ideas about what is proper for women to be doing.

As the soldier drives her around the island in his jeep, the quest for votes leads to one absurd situation after another. The unlikely pair meets a man running across the desert that the soldier suspects of being a smuggler and has to persuade him to vote by pointing his gun at him. They must also contend with a truckload of women and a single man who insists on casting all of their votes for them. In other situations, women in a nomadic camp refuse to vote without permission of the men who are out fishing, and a Muslim at a solar energy site will vote for only one candidate -- GOD -- who isn't even on the ballot. In one of the more surreal episodes, the soldier refuses to drive past a red traffic light standing in the middle of the desert even though he knows it is broken and will never turn green.

Simplistic ideas about the value of democracy are tested against the reality that the islanders must face. One potential voter asks the official, "What do you know about us and our problems? We have to hide our feelings here." In another case, women cannot vote because they are forbidden to look at the photographs of the male candidates. Another time, the official cannot register the votes of men at a cemetery because women are forbidden to enter the sacred ground. It is not clear if the film was made to promote democracy or to show it as being ludicrous. Apparently the Iranian officials took it seriously because the film was banned in Iran. What is clear is that unless an electorate is informed and feels a stake in the outcome, the process of voting is a sham and, as the protagonists in Secret Ballot found out, cannot be imposed with high minded speeches or a gun pointed at the voter's head.

Boooooooorrrrrriiiinnngggggg!

[centvriox · 1/10 · 12 October 2005]

My God, I could make a better movie if I just focused a camera on my *lawn* for two hours!! This movie makes "Solaris" (the supposed Russian "answer" to 2001...NOT!) look like "Fast and the Furious!!!" (Speaking strictly of attention-getting ability and excitement level, of course). I saw no evidence that the dullard soldier gained any kind of "insight" whatsoever! He was basically Forrest Gump's younger, dumber, brother.

The final scene was reminiscent of "Sling Blade." The moron just sits and stares, none the wiser, still an idiot.

"Spoiler??" There was nothing to *spoil* but I checked the box just in case.

Maybe Iran thinks they can show "Fundamentalist Islam with a Happy Face" but one look at the woman in a black head covering and cape when it's probably *90 Degrees* outside tells you all you need to know.

By the way, just what WERE the two soldiers "guarding" against? Invasion, perhaps from the "Great Satan?" One burst from a 20mm chain gun and they'd be so much falafel.

I need a drink! :>)

Good foreign flick...

[arakitai · 8/10 · 5 January 2006]

I saw the movie today on the IFC channel. I identified with the characters as I myself grew up in a Soviet Bloc country--where it is not uncommon for a soldier to get posted in complete isolation for years.

Some might think of the soldier guarding the election official as a simpleton. I think the guy just spent too much time bored out of his mind and things slowed down for him. It took him a while to get the good old gray matter churning again. Plus, the guy was a hick.

Anyhow, it was a funny, sometimes sardonic movie. You really get to like the characters towards the end.

Cheers!

Bush wants these people dead - they are human, he is not.

[winner55 · 9/10 · 25 December 2007]

The protagonist of this film is a member of the Revolutionary Guard. Her mission: to awaken the agrarian people of a desert island to the possibility of voting in a democratic election - women included.

This is the same Revolutionary Guard that George Bush and Hillary Clinton want to convince us are nothing more than terrorist puppets. Uh-huh?! The film is slow, but it is easy to watch, partly due to its amazing visuals, panoramic for a non-epic narrative; partly due to it's subtle humor; partly due to the essential humanness of its characters - all brilliantly and professionally acted. Indeed, there is no way to fault the professionalism of the film, and only its leisurely pace may annoy the open-minded viewer.

But I started out with the politics involved, because they are important right now. Remember: Bush and Clinton want us to kill these people. If you can watch this film with an open mind and still want to waste them, you don't need a film review, you need psychotherapy - and as much Thorazine as your body can handle.

An exquisitely human - and humane - film about humans in Iran.

another interesting Iranian film

[kurtz-1 · 6 August 2003]

This is perhaps the fourth or fifth Iranian film I've seen and they are

all have been quite poignant and... different. I must admit I was

initially curious as to the content and tone knowing that this is a

very supressed and controlled culture -- but once again, with

Secret Ballot , here is a film that takes a very ordinary situation and

brings great humor and pathos to it. I know some reviewers take

issue with the director's propensity for long shots where the action

is taking place almost out of your view (like the arrest of the

smugglers on their boat) and keeping the camera in place when

the actors leave or, have not entered that space as of yet ,--but I

find these techniques somehow consistent with the rhythm and

pace of the film. I enjoyed it and recommend it as I do most foreign

films that offer an insight into a culture and a people...by

comparison with most of the Hollywood dribble that passes for

"entertainment."

Beautiful film

[verglace · 10/10 · 8 April 2006]

Last week, my daughter and I viewed Osama and tonight Secret Ballot. Both impressed us greatly.

Secret Ballot is a sweet movie about two people fulfilling a duty—one eagerly, the other reluctantly—and growing to know and appreciate each other in the process. Reminds me a bit of The African Queen.

The cinematography is breath-taking and I just wish I could have viewed it on a large screen. The social commentary vis a vis the place of women—e.g. not in a cemetery—is presented sympathetically.

I liked the scene where the soldier tells the girl to pour water for his hand washing and she does so without question—like automatically. The old man choosing to vote for God and the soldier, in the end, choosing to vote for the girl were delightful.

My daughter is a middle school teacher and plans to show this film to her students. That is a high accolade for a sensitive film.

Fascinating semi docu drama culture of the purpose of a vote

[jordondave-28085 · 8/10 · 10 February 2023]

(2001) Secret Ballot/ Raye makhfi (In Iranian with English subtitles) DOCU -DRAMA

Simple formal film, and not for everybody's taste because it's long and slow, but subtle for others as we the audience witness an Iranian female ballot agent with the aide of a male Iranian soldier cruising around on a jeep onto unpopulated cities around specific almost obscure parts of Iran for a day, for the intention of collecting extra votes. Whereas when we listen to some of those qualified voters some people don't see the point in it, while they're others feel it's importance. Co-produced, co-written and directed by Babak Payami makes the most of it's long deserted locations which can go on for miles on end, making one to wonder what's the point on looking at the screen, other than to gaze at it like you'd do if this type of scenery is like looking through your kitchen window. This can also be another side of Iran people do not really know about where they're not projected as hostile as some want to believe it to be! Obvious possible influence of David Lean movies, particularly Lawrence of Arabia!

A clear portrayal of how disjointed "civilized" life really is

[bigrichry · 10/10 · 26 June 2006]

Two Iranian soldiers "guard" some trivial outpost on an irrelevant, nearly deserted, desert island. One morning a ballot box and a young female collector of ballots materialize. One soldier has to take these across a desert scene by open jeep to collect "votes" from natives who are totally in the dark of what is happening. Scattered abandoned projects are encompassed along the way. Such as a stop light that never changes at a remote crossroads. A concrete bridge in the middle of nowhere.

The woman is concerned late in the day that they won't get back before the boat comes for her and she will be stranded. In a preposterous near-final scene, a full-sized jumbo jet arrives on an usable strip to pick her up.

The soldiers alternate in using a steel bed in the open desert.

There are many fascinating secondary stories. It is just short of pure comedy and of near tragedy.

Lovely satirical comedy

[meitschi · 9/10 · 29 October 2001]

I just saw this film on the Vienna film festival and found it one of the most lovable comedies ever. It tells about a female voting agent who comes to the middle of nowhere to collect the votes on election day. There, she is faced with lack of interest from the "citizens" and other unexpected problems. Not to mention a local soldier who doesn't like at all that he has to carry her around by car instead of chasing smugglers... The humor of the film is lovely and attains sometimes satirical and even philosophical depth, regarding the futility and inherent senselessness of the voting agent's work in this environment.

A highly watchable and recommendable film, even for those who are not very familiar with Iranian cinema, because the pacing of the story never becomes too slow for European viewers.

A wonderful Vacation from Hollywood

[macbug · 10/10 · 29 December 2011]

This movie is a Jewel, some won't get it and that is their loss. It is thought provoking, every scene is a unique canvas painted with the realism of common people who, like people all over the world have their own problems and must make decisions on priorities. The contrast between the two Characters is so NON Hollywood. A simple soldier that is going to be taught and have his world expanded. A young woman who is educated, and believes in the process of elections, is the election agent her job is to collect votes, qualified and valid votes. Simple right? Wrong, she is also going to learn also. The great thing I loved about this movie is the extreme effort they ( the Iranian government) made to collect these votes from this extremely remote and isolated island. This is a must see movie for anyone interested in learning about the Iran, the people and especially the culture. WELL DONE. You could never go on a trip there and see what you see in this movie. This movie has so much love in it; the work is a master piece, of observation without getting in the way or polluting the subject matter. I would love to own their car, even without a windshield.