Synopsis
![Synopsis](/imager/images/films/3510/SECRET-BALLOT-still-2_6e7726e83a2d18c8be7a5e193d2e4968.jpg)
At an isolated seaside post, an unsuspecting soldier is thrown into an election day adventure. Orders from above force him to accompany a female election agent by jeep across the dusty desert in one surprising absurd situation after another. When opposites clash, so much can happen in a single day. A lonely man can discover there’s more to voting by secret ballot than he ever imagined.
![Synopsis](/imager/images/films/3511/POSTER-secret-ballot_145ff7b2730726de062f135cf5a0d7fb.jpg)
Trailer
Press
"Funny, provocative, well-paced… Leaves a memorable bittersweet aftertaste."
THE LOS ANGELES TIMES
"Exploring everything from military inertia and rural ignorance to political idealism and the changing role of women, this is a deliciously absurdist satire on a country where remoteness and indifference are as much a hindrance to reform as doctrine and tradition…Payami reinforces his gently mocking message through the cautious by-play between his non-professional leads. His sterling efforts were rewarded with a special director’s award at the 2001 Venice Film Festival."
THE RADIO TIMES
"Entrancing….SECRET BALLOT charms with its amalgam of absurdity, optimism, humor and avuncular regard for the million small daily chores, rituals, suspicions, and courtesies of dwellers on even the sparest spots on earth."
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
"The landscape photography, by Farzad Jodat, is fully up to the high standards of the Iranian cinema, and there is always something pleasant to look at in the film."
THE NEW YORK TIMES
"Payami again demonstrates his confident way with ambient sound….The film’s engaging characters and the rollicking, often bizarre nature of their encounters confirm him as a film-maker of ability and personal vision."
SIGHT AND SOUND
Festivals
& Awards
Venice Film Festival
Best Director
Netpac Award
OCIC Award
Toronto International Film Festival
Sao Paulo International Film Festival
Special Jury Prize
Valladolid International Film Festival
Best Director
London Film Festival
FIPRESCI Prize – Special Mention
Rotterdam International Film Festival
Netpac Award – Special Mention
Newport International Film Festival, Rhode Island
Best Feature Film
Tokyo FILMeX
Oslo Film Festival
Tromsø International Film Festival
Fajr Internatinoal Film Festival
Moscow Film Festival
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
Calgary International Film Festival
Warsaw Film Festival
London Film Festival
FIPRESCI Prize
Cast & Crew
Nassim Abidi | |
---|---|
Cyrus Abidi | |
Youssef Habashi | |
Farrokh Shojaii | |
Gholbahar Janghali |
Director | Babak Payami |
---|---|
Screenplay | Babak Payami |
Adapted From an original idea of | Mohsen Makhmalbaf |
Producers | Babak Payami, Marco Müller |
Executive Producer | Hooshangh Payami |
Director Of Photography | Farzad Jodat |
Production Design | Mandana Masoudi |
Costume Design | Faride Harajl |
Sound | Yadollah Najafi |
Editor | Babak Karimi |
Music | Michael Galasso |
![](/imager/images/films/8946/bulletin-secret-10_c28e64366a8206b210db47692adfb514.jpg)