But what it has like many iranian films is a humanitarian spirit, real life ambiance and a sense that hope and justice can prevail in a country that seems antidemocratic and. The most talked among them was that the film is a copy of iranian movie secret ballot. Rajkummar raos newton inspired by iranian film secret. A day after this news was announced, several reports came out claiming that the film has been inspired by a 2001 iranian movie titled secret ballot, helmed by babak payami. Those who are interested in the iranian election and protests should see this superb iranian film that is one of the finest explorations of freedom, elections, democracy, and the rule of law i have ever watched on screen. Rajkummar rao starrer newton was recently announced as indias official entry to the oscar awards this year. Farsiland is the largest persian movie database and tv series archive, please let us know if you encounter any incorrect information. With nassim abdi, cyrus abidi, youssef habashi, farrokh shoja. Newton is not a copy of secret ballot, confirms the. The plot of the movie is similar to iranian movie, secret ballot. Newton revolves around a government employees struggle to conduct a free and fair election in a conflicthit area of chhattisgarh, while secret ballot focuses on a woman ballot officer, who visits a desolate place in iran to convince people to cast their vote. In both films, the protagonist is an earnest polling officer who is sent to a remote area during the time of elections. Iranian director babak payami, in his second feature, raye makhfi secret ballot. Cod to host special screening of iranian comedy secret.
Secret ballot, another iranian film, has some parallels with kandahar. In a report by ndtv, it has been said that newton has an uncanny similarity with an iranian film where the protagonist is an earnest polling officer who is sent to a remote area during the time of elections. Secret ballot, a new film from iran, opens with a lyrical flourish. A soldier is stationed on a deserted beach when an electoral urn lands via parachute from the sky and a young woman turns up to collect it.
As written and directed by babak payami, the film is far more than a comedy. This beautifullyshot, prizewinning film takes a wry look at the difficulties of making democracy work in present day iran. In a turn of events, these claims were rubbished by the producer of the iranian film, marco mueller. Secret ballot director babak payami extends best wishes. Newton, becoming indias official oscar entry this year came with its share of controversy. The secret ballot is a voting method in which a voters choices in an election or a referendum are anonymous. Sometimes its about the long shot, the static pose from a distance. Ndtv reports that newton has an uncanny similarity with an iranian film called secret ballot. Iranian films producer wishes indias entry good luck at the oscars. Soon after the announcement, there were rumours that the film was inspired by the 2001 iranian film secret ballot. Because we never find out who or what is being elected, there has been much puzzlement among critics about what the election symbolizes. Newton is different from secret ballot, confirms iranian director. Is the film primarily about democracy, gender discrimination or life in iran. Amit masurkar talks about newton being allegedly inspired from iranian film secret ballot written by i.
Is newton a replica of secret ballot is oscars new entry newton copied from iranian film secret ballot. Rajkumar rao in newton a day after making headlines for being indias official entry to the 2018 oscars, newton is in the news. Review of secret ballot 12 by marty mapes movie habit. The polling officer, just like newton, does everything to ensure a higher turnout but is constantly demotivated by the security incharge. Producer marco mueller feels that there was not even a hint of plagiarisation in rajkummar raos newton, amidst claims that the movie has been inspired from his 2001 iranian film secret ballot. Secret ballot is an iranian film from director babak payami. Newton, india s official entry to the oscars for the foreign language film category, had come under the scanner for allegedly being a ripoff of secret ballot but the director of the 2001 iranian. A soldier stationed on a deserted beach wakes up and discovers that its not going to be an ordinary day. Sometimes a great film isnt necessarily about production values, or a good screenwriter, or brilliant performances. Wednesday, april 20, in the health and science center, room. Secret ballot, directed by babak payami, is a little slow and may not be of interest to the viewer who likes a little bit of action in their film going experience. Newton had come under the scanner for allegedly being a ripoff of secret ballot but the director of the 2001 iranian film, babak payami, has wished amit masurkar upon its selection as indias. However, a day after this news hit the stands, theres a buzz doing the rounds that the film has been inspired from by a 2001 iranian movie titled secret ballot whose original title in persian.
Secret ballot has choice targets iranian director spins comedy from male soldier and female election worker from this unusual beginning in a capital that is. Secret ballot raye makhfi 2001is another iranian film about a strong, determined young woman. Kandahars heroine and lead actress were afghancanadian, and secret ballots director is iraniancanadian. I f you only see one enigmatic iranian film this year thats probably enough. Is rajkummar raos newton copied from iranian film secret. Is newton plagiarised from iranian film secret ballot. A female election agent and a guntoting soldier try to. The key aim is to ensure the voter records a sincere choice by forestalling attempts to influence the voter by intimidation or bribery.
The story of election day on a remote iranian island as seen though the eyes of an idealistic election agent and the reluctant soldier assigned to. The middle east committee at college of dupage will host a special screening of the 2001 iranian film secret ballot from 1 to 3 p. And a lonely man can discover theres more to voting by secret ballot than he ever imagined. This parabolic movie explores some possible explanations. After seeing it twice, im still not sure whether the. But secret ballot, an iranian feature from babak payami, is never clearly one or the other. It is a slight and modest film, but thoughtprovoking, and, at. Secret ballot is a simple film about one womans battle to bring democracy to an iranian backwater. The ballot box that floats down by parachute, dropped from a plane in the red dawn, is the first mystery in babak payamis entrancing, inexplicable film secret ballot.
According to the report, the plotlines have a lot of similarities. While not on the level of such iranian movie masterpieces as abbas kiarostamis taste of cherry, or the films of mohsen makhmalbaf, secret ballot is worth a viewing. It was suggested and financed by kandahars director, mohsen makhmalbaf. Producer marco mueller feels that there was not even a hint of plagiarisation in rajkummar raos newton, amidst claims that the movie has. Throughout the long, hot, and dusty day, the idealistic election official and the cynical soldier express their disagreements. The great iranian director mohsen makhmalbaf suggested the idea for babak payamis pleasing lowkey comedy secret ballot, which mirrors the opening of makhmalbafs recent kandahar with the same absurd yet strangely lyrical shot of unusual cargo drifting down from the sky. Secret ballot sbs on demand this beautifullyshot, prizewinning film takes a wry look at the difficulties of making democracy work in present day iran. The name of the island, the nature of the election, and the names characters are never identified in the film. While not on the level of such iranian movie masterpieces as abbas kiarostamis taste of cherry. Perhaps iran itself is like this, people as well as landscape. The film tends to the didactic, perhaps even seeing itself in terms of a vehicle of progress and enlightenment in the iran of the mullahs. Secret ballot is a quixotic new iranian comedy about a female election agent who is sent to a remote island to collect ballots in a national election. The amit masurkardirected film had come under the scanner for having similarities with babak payamis 2001 film. 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.
Such was the unworthy thought i had for a poster tagline after. The secret ballot, also known as australian ballot, is a voting method in which a voters choices in an election or a referendum are anonymous, forestalling attempts to influence the voter by intimidation, blackmailing, and potential vote buying. Secret ballot, directed by babak payami, is a playful iranian parable about openness, particularly the need for people of diverse political perspectives to get along with each other despite their ideological differences. According to a report in ndtv, the rajkummar rao starrer newton is uncannily similar to an iranian film, secret ballot. Like kandahar, secret ballot is a tour movie, a tour of life in the primitive backwaters of the fledgling democracy of iran. After many yay and nays, the producer of secret ballot himself, marco. Only in this case, the cargo isnt wooden legs for amputees, but a ballot box dropped at sunrise on a remote island, the. Both producer and director of secret ballot have rejected that newton is a copy of their film.
Secret ballot is a quixotic new iranian comedy about a female election agent who is sent to a remote island to collect ballots in a national. It is election day on a small iranian island and an airplane drops the ballot box down to the ground in a. Amit masurkar refutes allegations of newton being copied. Wednesday, march 7, 2012 2001 secret ballot in iranian with english subtitles drama simple formuliac film and not for everybodys taste because its long and slow but subtle for. The system is one means of achieving the goal of political privacy secret ballots are suitable for many different voting systems. Secret ballot is a 1hour, 40 minute long social documentary that highlights the sad state of women in iran there is a scene where the election agent does not allow a 12yearold to cast her.
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