Secret Ballot
On a remote Persian Gulf island, an idealistic election agent and a skeptical soldier travel from settlement to settlement collecting votes. Their day becomes a wry, humane examination of authority, gender and the uneasy practice of democracy.
Film details
Credits
Year
2001
Director
Babak Payami
Writers
Babak Payami, Mohsen Makhmalbaf
Starring
Nassim Abdi, Cyrus Abidi, Youssef Habashi
Film & production
Watch
Official trailer
Making of
Selected press
Critical response
“A funny, touching road movie.”Philip French — The Observer
“Highly entertaining and deceptively simple.”Jonathan Rosenbaum — Chicago Reader
“An absurd, allegorically rich comedy worthy of the best existentialist drama of Beckett or Ionesco.”Ann Hornaday — The Washington Post
“Funny, provocative, well-paced and leaves a memorable bittersweet aftertaste.”Kevin Thomas — Los Angeles Times
Selected recognition
Awards
- Venice · 2001Silver Lion — Best Director
- Venice · 2001Pasinetti Award — Best Film
- Venice · 2001UNICEF Award
- Venice · 2001NETPAC Award
- Venice · 2001OCIC Award
- Valladolid · 2001Best New Director
- São Paulo · 2001Special Jury Award
- London · 2001FIPRESCI Special Mention
- Rotterdam · 2002NETPAC Special Mention
- Newport · 2002Jury Award — Best Feature