Four out of five stars
This is a slow-paced but intriguing Iranian film about a young woman from a city on the mainland sent to a small island to collect votes for the national election. She is accompanied on her mission by a local soldier who is initially baffled by her effort. It gives vivid glimpses of traditional life in isolated parts of Iran.
The unnamed woman and soldier drive around in a VW jeep finding people and gathering their votes in what is best described as a subdued comedy. Some people are not especially interested in voting; some don’t like any of the candidates on the approved list (commentary?); some men think the women should vote only for candidates the men tell them to. One man votes for God. The woman explains to him that he isn’t on the list but he remains steadfast. (Perhaps it’s a subtle knock at the theocratic regime that God is part of the process.)
Initially it seems that the film is poking fun at the idea of democratic processes in traditional parts of the country or all Iran, but it becomes clear that the message is respect for the woman’s persistent commitment to democracy. The film ends with the soldier who accompanies her and often mocks her casting his ballot – for her. Her duty completed, she leaves the island and the soldier goes back to his sentry post.
Copyright 2014 Brian M Downing
Brian M Downing is a national security analyst who has written for outlets across the political spectrum. He studied at Georgetown University and the University of Chicago and did post-graduate work at Harvard’s Center for International Affairs.