Simply Perfect

Pretty Good

Blistering performances.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

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.

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.

This is perhaps the fourth or fifth Iranian film I've seen and they areall have been quite poignant and... different. I must admit I wasinitially curious as to the content and tone knowing that this is avery supressed and controlled culture -- but once again, withSecret Ballot , here is a film that takes a very ordinary situation andbrings great humor and pathos to it. I know some reviewers takeissue with the director's propensity for long shots where the actionis taking place almost out of your view (like the arrest of thesmugglers on their boat) and keeping the camera in place whenthe actors leave or, have not entered that space as of yet ,--but Ifind these techniques somehow consistent with the rhythm andpace of the film. I enjoyed it and recommend it as I do most foreignfilms that offer an insight into a culture and a people...bycomparison with most of the Hollywood dribble that passes for"entertainment."

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.