This film is dedicated
to all who oppose it
#00:00:15.03,00:00:22.00
The Test of Democracy
by Mohsen Makhmalbaf
#00:00:23.22,00:00:31.21
Take this.
Hana, Take this from me.
#00:00:33.01,00:00:37.11
- Take these clothes off, sir.
- No sir. No way!
#00:00:38.01,00:00:40.22
- Take these clothes off, sir.
- Let me take care of it, sir.
#00:00:41.06,00:00:43.21
- Come on now, take them off.
- No!
#00:00:44.01,00:00:45.20
Just take them off and get it over with...
#00:00:45.21,00:00:48.11
- Come on now, take them off.
- No.
#00:00:49.11,00:00:51.22
- Mr. Mohsen, he won't take them off!
- Come on, take them off now!
#00:00:53.05,00:00:56.08
Give that to me. Come on, hand it over.
Ok, wrap it around your waist like this.
#00:00:56.09,00:00:59.23
Wrap it around your waist.
There, like that!
#00:01:00.08,00:01:02.22
Please, take it off!
Come on, do it for me!
#00:01:04.03,00:01:08.12
Here, take it from him.
Come on now, take them off.
#00:01:09.01,00:01:12.01
Come on, take this.
Come on, do this for me!
#00:01:13.00,00:01:19.08
Just stand behind the door, where
no one can see you. Stand right there.
#00:01:21.01,00:01:25.03
Come over here.
Stand right here, no one will see you.
#00:01:25.20,00:01:28.00
It's a door, no one can see
behind it. Ma'am, don't look!
#00:01:28.03,00:01:31.08
- Isn't anyone looking?
- No one's looking.
#00:01:31.11,00:01:34.07
Wrap this around your waist.
#00:01:35.06,00:01:36.16
- Wear this loincloth.
- Take it off fast. Fast, fast!
#00:01:36.21,00:01:39.05
Move it, we're losing the light.
There you are! Good job!
#00:01:40.10,00:01:43.04
It doesn't look good. White clothes
are awful, they reflect too much light!
#00:01:43.07,00:01:47.04
I've been trying to get you to take
these clothes off for 10 days now!
#00:01:47.17,00:01:53.17
What's with you and these...
Take your watch off!
#00:01:53.21,00:01:56.11
- No...
- You can't have a watch on...
#00:01:56.19,00:01:59.08
You're supposed to be in
the middle of nowhere! Give it to me.
#00:01:59.14,00:02:03.02
Take the watch. There!
Now come here. Come here.
#00:02:04.19,00:02:07.08
Take these away.
Come on, here. Here.
#00:02:07.17,00:02:11.11
Ok, now. Put the door on your back
and walk. Put it on your back!
#00:02:14.17,00:02:18.22
- Let him put it on himself.
- Ok. Now listen...
#00:02:22.07,00:02:24.07
Put it on your back and move this way.
The door, put it on your back.
#00:02:39.09,00:02:42.21
- No, no!
- Come on!
#00:02:48.00,00:02:49.19
This is really not that hard!
#00:02:53.14,00:02:56.10
Look, it's light as a feather.
Look at me, sir. Sir?
#00:02:56.11,00:03:00.12
- Sir? Sir?
- Sir, please look this way.
#00:03:01.04,00:03:09.02
Mr. Mohsen...
#00:03:11.15,00:03:13.00
Put it on your back for a minute.
Just for one lousy minute!
#00:03:13.23,00:03:19.06
Sir, listen. Look here.
Look at me. Just look at me!
#00:03:26.17,00:03:32.06
Sir? Here! Look at me!
#00:03:33.03,00:03:35.11
- Look at him, look!
- Look at me for one second!
#00:03:37.08,00:03:42.08
Do you want us to pick it up, one by
one? Do you want all of us to do it?
#00:03:46.23,00:03:51.01
Ok, look. No, just look.
#00:03:52.01,00:03:55.06
He just won't do it!
#00:03:56.02,00:03:57.20
Ok, come close.
Come on, let's discuss this!
#00:04:00.01,00:04:03.21
Look, man. See? It's really easy, look...
#00:04:11.23,00:04:14.22
Just forget about it!
#00:04:20.12,00:04:22.18
- Let's take a break.
- My back hurt. I can't sleep at nights...
#00:04:24.02,00:04:28.04
Turn it off.
Yes, turn it off.
#00:04:28.07,00:04:30.12
- My back would hurt...
- This poor guy's back would hurt too!
#00:04:32.00,00:04:36.10
This guy thinks he's
Burt Lancaster or something!
#00:04:42.06,00:04:45.00
- My back hurts.
- It's just for one minute.
#00:04:47.06,00:04:49.19
Sit down right here.
#00:04:50.13,00:04:52.01
- Sir?
- Yes?
#00:04:55.17,00:04:57.15
- Bring fruit juice for the guys.
- Go on, go get the fruit juice, fast!
#00:04:58.01,00:05:02.22
- Hi.
- Hi. How are you doing?
#00:05:06.14,00:05:09.13
What a pleasant surprise!
#00:05:13.07,00:05:14.20
- Come on. Come.
- Have everything ready, I'll be back!
#00:05:21.23,00:05:24.15
- What are you doing, Shahab?
- Nothing really. I'm here ...
#00:05:35.21,00:05:38.12
- ...to see what you're doing here!
- I'm not doing much.
#00:05:38.21,00:05:41.23
- If it's really like that, why...
- If we go this way, we'd get...
#00:05:42.23,00:05:47.13
Why did you insist that
I'd come here to make a film?
#00:05:47.16,00:05:50.19
You said you bought a video camera,
and I said I'm happy for you because...
#00:05:51.01,00:05:54.13
The films you make
with it would be great.
#00:05:54.17,00:05:59.09
But unlike 35mm films,
video productions have no class.
#00:06:01.05,00:06:07.17
It's no longer a question of style. This
is the camera of the information age.
#00:06:07.22,00:06:14.12
Just like a writer...
there is his mind, and there is his pen.
#00:06:15.03,00:06:20.07
He takes the pen and writes,
and so creates his work of art.
#00:06:20.16,00:06:23.23
But the filmmaker writes, then asks for
a permit, and they don't give it to him!
#00:06:25.21,00:06:30.14
Even if he gets a permit, he
won't have access to the necessities...
#00:06:30.18,00:06:33.15
After a year, from 100 great ideas, one
might be able to make a film out of it...
#00:06:33.18,00:06:42.14
...they won't let it go to the screen, and
even if they do let him screen his film...
#00:06:42.19,00:06:46.04
...it will go through so much
censorship that nothing will be left.
#00:06:46.23,00:06:52.04
In fact, as long as you need
investors and government subsidies...
#00:06:52.09,00:07:00.10
As long as films are censored,
I don't know, it's really just an industry...
#00:07:00.13,00:07:06.04
For the innovative art of cinema
they talk about so much...
#00:07:06.14,00:07:09.08
...all you need is a digital camera.
This cheap camera right here!
#00:07:09.10,00:07:12.11
This camera functions as the pen.
#00:07:13.02,00:07:16.21
The less significant the tools become,
a greater role the artist plays.
#00:07:18.02,00:07:24.20
Instead of forming a large crew...
#00:07:24.23,00:07:29.18
Anyone who has something new to say,
can use it just like a writer uses a pen...
#00:07:30.06,00:07:35.06
For discussing everyday issues and...
#00:07:35.08,00:07:37.19
No, even for serious stuff. For example,
what Marquez does with his pen...
#00:07:38.08,00:07:42.02
Writing is a different story. The
whole technique is in the head and...
#00:07:42.02,00:07:46.21
- Shahab, is this recording?
- No, of course it's not recording.
#00:07:46.23,00:07:49.19
- It is! The light is red.
- So? A lot of things are red!
#00:07:49.23,00:07:54.04
- I'll turn it off if you like.
- No, do whatever you feel like.
#00:07:55.10,00:07:58.22
But it really is like a pen. See,
you can use it to write on the ground!
#00:08:26.17,00:08:30.14
Li...
#00:08:33.11,00:08:35.05
...ber...
#00:08:35.13,00:08:37.07
...ty. #00:08:39.12,00:08:41.18
On the sea...
#00:08:43.09,00:08:44.21
Li...
#00:08:45.11,00:08:46.23
...ber...
#00:08:46.23,00:08:48.22
...ty.
#00:08:48.22,00:08:50.21
Mr. Mohsen? There we are.
Wait a second, wait!
#00:08:52.09,00:08:57.05
- Where are you going?
- Wait a second!
#00:09:02.20,00:09:05.12
Wait one second!
#00:09:08.07,00:09:10.00
When are you coming back?
#00:09:12.07,00:09:14.00
- Shahab?
- Yes?
#00:09:23.12,00:09:25.03
How about making a film about
this crowd? It's not a bad topic.
#00:09:26.12,00:09:30.20
I'd love to make a film about who will
represent these people in parliament.
#00:09:32.22,00:09:38.20
About the election.
What do you think?
#00:09:38.23,00:09:43.00
It's not a bad idea. What about
the set decorations and equipment?
#00:09:45.02,00:09:49.03
I don't need anything.
#00:09:49.12,00:09:51.01
You'd need some things.
A chair, a megaphone, a ballet box.
#00:09:51.20,00:09:56.09
Well, how about
using their speaker system?
#00:10:02.02,00:10:04.16
Call the waiter and ask if we can borrow
their speaker system for a day.
#00:10:08.00,00:10:12.01
You think he's going to do it?
#00:10:59.00,00:11:00.20
What did you say, Shahab?
It got so loud in here...
#00:11:02.12,00:11:05.20
Do you think he'd do it?
#00:11:05.23,00:11:07.18
I think he won't do it.
#00:11:30.01,00:11:32.06
Would you bet on that? I think he'll do it.
#00:11:35.13,00:11:38.02
I'm here to give you the bare facts.
#00:12:06.04,00:12:11.09
The truth is, being birds,
you don't fly too well.
#00:12:11.11,00:12:16.18
I don't want to lead you
a merry dance, but please: fly!
#00:12:18.04,00:12:22.17
I lead you not to
the merry dance of blue smoke
#00:12:23.19,00:12:27.15
I lead you not to
a plush rainbow, to petty dreams
#00:12:28.05,00:12:36.00
Anyone who ever came here, lied to
you, hoping to get one extra act to play.
#00:12:38.12,00:12:45.09
They've told you how well you fly,
but I'm here to play this one act, and go.
#00:12:46.05,00:12:51.01
So, won't you mind if I tell you the truth?
#00:12:52.09,00:12:54.11
You fly no better than a chicken! Think
otherwise? Please fly and let us see!
#00:12:58.14,00:13:04.16
Shall one live so pure and moral
#00:13:05.23,00:13:09.11
How impure and immoral would I be,
were I not to leave a token of my faith...
#00:13:12.00,00:13:16.13
A token immortal, like noble mountains,
unlike the unlasting soil
#00:13:16.16,00:13:22.07
Regrettably, some
are leaving the house.
#00:13:27.07,00:13:30.09
Please don't let that
keep you from flying.
#00:13:30.17,00:13:33.09
Fly higher this time, if you would. Make
a new record in the history of flight.
#00:13:33.21,00:13:40.12
Let's not let the history of flight
repeat itself once again.
#00:13:40.23,00:13:43.06
Shall one live so low and ignoble
#00:13:44.21,00:13:47.16
How flagrant would I be, were I not
to hang my lantern of life in shame...
#00:13:47.19,00:13:53.16
...on the height of a dead dry
pine tree in the dead-end alley.
#00:13:53.18,00:13:57.17
Mohsen? What are you doing?
What are you talking about?
#00:13:58.03,00:14:00.06
- Can you hear me?
- What are you talking about?
#00:14:02.01,00:14:03.20
- I'm testing the sound.
- Say one phrase that makes sense.
#00:14:04.02,00:14:07.21
One, two, three.
Testing the freedom in this term.
#00:14:10.07,00:14:14.21
- Hello sir. How are you?
- Hi. I'm fine, thank you.
#00:14:38.09,00:14:43.14
- Where did you get these chairs from?
- We bought them from the Bazaar.
#00:14:44.03,00:14:48.05
- Where?
- The Bazaar.
#00:14:49.11,00:14:51.01
- What was the price?
- Twenty Tomans.
#00:14:51.03,00:14:53.01
- Were there any left?
- Go take a look around. Maybe.
#00:14:53.03,00:14:56.13
- Are the chairs for sale?
- They belonged to important people.
#00:15:42.09,00:15:48.17
- Hi. How are you? How is it going?
- Hello. I'm fine, thank you.
#00:15:59.16,00:16:05.11
- Would you sell us your chair?
- No.
#00:16:07.06,00:16:09.16
- Why?
- Because important people sat here.
#00:16:10.07,00:16:16.21
And the seats you see here,
I'm just here to guard them.
#00:16:17.10,00:16:21.17
- You're guarding them?
- Yes, I'm here to guard them.
#00:16:21.19,00:16:24.20
I don't sit on those chairs,
I just sit here and guard them.
#00:16:24.21,00:16:32.09
- So, why have you chained them?
- So no one takes them.
#00:16:33.04,00:16:38.16
I might go to the bathroom
for a few minutes, or take a break.
#00:16:39.02,00:16:44.13
With the chains, I don't have to worry
when I go away for a few minutes.
#00:16:45.04,00:16:48.18
Sell this chair to us,
and go sit over there. Ok?
#00:16:49.01,00:16:52.03
- No, no. No.
- I'll give you money. Money!
#00:16:52.05,00:16:55.06
- These belonged to important people.
- I'll give you money for it.
#00:16:55.08,00:16:59.19
No, I won't sell it.
Not even if you give money for it.
#00:16:59.20,00:17:02.08
- How much do you want?
- No, I'm not selling it.
#00:17:02.15,00:17:04.22
- I'll give you 10,000 Tomans. 10,000!
- No, I'm not selling it.
#00:17:05.05,00:17:10.00
- 11,000 Tomans
- No, No!
#00:17:10.12,00:17:13.06
- 11,200 Tomans
- No. I'm not selling it.
#00:17:13.19,00:17:17.17
Look! One, two, three...
#00:17:18.14,00:17:21.17
- Say that you'd sell it.
- I won't sell it.
#00:17:21.22,00:17:25.03
Four, five, six... There you go!
#00:17:25.05,00:17:30.00
Seven, eight, nine,
and ten. That's it. Here!
#00:17:30.02,00:17:33.02
- That's enough. There you are.
- No. I can't.
#00:17:33.09,00:17:35.14
Where is the key? Go sit over there.
The important people aren't here, now.
#00:17:35.15,00:17:40.17
Where is the key?
Ok, here is another thousand.
#00:17:41.05,00:17:44.05
- No, I'm not selling! No!
- That's enough. Go on, now.
#00:17:50.22,00:17:55.19
I'm not selling it.
These belong to important people...
#00:17:56.04,00:17:59.17
It's ok, sit down.
The important people aren't here, now.
#00:17:59.20,00:18:04.00
Ok, come on. Come on,
get up. I'll help you get up.
#00:18:04.04,00:18:10.12
Where is the key?
Watch out! Where's the key?
#00:18:10.21,00:18:13.14
- Where is the key?
- The key? It's not with me.
#00:18:20.12,00:18:23.22
- You don't have the key?
- No, I don't.
#00:18:24.04,00:18:26.18
Shahab? Come here,
it's open. The lock doesn't work.
#00:18:33.14,00:18:38.03
- Bye.
- I don't have the key!
#00:19:00.15,00:19:04.04
Bye.
#00:19:10.23,00:19:12.16
- Hey, Mohsen?
- What?
#00:19:15.13,00:19:17.07
I'm tired. My back hurts. When
will you take this door off my back?
#00:19:17.09,00:19:23.20
I'll be back after the election.
After the election...
#00:19:24.15,00:19:27.13
Hello, fellow brothers.
Hello, dear friends.
#00:19:47.02,00:19:51.13
- Try saying "sir"!
- Sir? Sir?
#00:19:52.15,00:19:54.11
Sir? Hello?
Do you have any empty chairs?
#00:19:55.19,00:19:58.23
Does anyone have any empty chairs?
#00:20:01.07,00:20:04.01
Any chairs for sale?
#00:20:05.22,00:20:10.03
Hey? Man? Sir?
#00:20:12.04,00:20:14.19
At least, answer!
#00:20:17.18,00:20:19.14
Are you going to Tehran?
#00:20:24.17,00:20:27.19
I'm here for that mason.
What do you have?
#00:20:29.02,00:20:33.06
We have a speaker system,
and a few chairs.
#00:20:33.09,00:20:36.16
- I don't know, ask the mason.
- It's ok, I don't mind.
#00:20:37.11,00:20:41.01
- I'll take them, if it's ok with him.
- Come on, get them fast.
#00:20:41.08,00:20:44.19
- Come give us a hand, here.
- Ok, sure.
#00:20:54.00,00:20:58.16
Shahab, you'd make a good porter!
#00:21:07.20,00:21:09.17
Couldn't you have used
another boat for your stucco?
#00:21:24.03,00:21:27.23
- No!
- Move it. Faster!
#00:21:28.03,00:21:30.04
Mohsen, put that down for a second.
#00:21:30.11,00:21:32.02
Come here and keep filming,
I'll take the rest of the stucco.
#00:21:32.04,00:21:35.16
Here, take them. Come on, we're late.
#00:22:05.06,00:22:08.04
Mohsen, you'd make a good porter!
#00:22:09.10,00:22:11.04
Come on. Move it, faster!
#00:22:17.14,00:22:21.02
It looks like these cameras
don't make things all that much easier!
#00:22:25.02,00:22:28.23
The filming is the same, it's what goes
on behind the scenes that's different.
#00:22:30.10,00:22:33.16
- There you go.
- I got it.
#00:22:42.04,00:22:44.05
Shahab, I'm getting tired. Come help.
#00:22:50.04,00:22:52.05
- Someone has to hold the camera.
- Put it on the speaker.
#00:22:53.22,00:22:57.22
Put it on the speaker and help move
this stuff. Don't waste so much time.
#00:22:58.19,00:23:02.01
Wait a second!
#00:23:11.20,00:23:13.06
- Hand it over.
- Here you are.
#00:23:21.18,00:23:24.23
This one is broken.
Forget about it, give me another one.
#00:23:29.21,00:23:33.08
Forget about him. Hurry up!
#00:23:34.15,00:23:37.23
Mohsen. Move fast, they're here! Fast!
#00:24:04.08,00:24:08.17
Move it!
#00:24:11.13,00:24:13.01
Where are you going? Hey?
#00:24:15.00,00:24:17.10
I'll be back.
I'll be back after the election.
#00:24:23.01,00:24:26.20
Let's go.
I'll be back after the election.
#00:24:27.09,00:24:30.21
- What should we do?
- Be prepared, it'll work out.
#00:24:31.01,00:24:36.00
- Wait how long?
- Don't go!
#00:24:38.01,00:24:41.10
- Have you voted yet?
- No.
#00:25:04.23,00:25:06.12
The ballot box is coming.
#00:25:06.17,00:25:08.08
She could drown!
#00:26:49.10,00:26:51.12
- Hi. Have you voted?
- Hi. No, we haven't.
#00:26:54.21,00:26:57.03
Today is Election Day.
#00:26:57.06,00:26:58.21
Vote?
Can we use our ID cards?
#00:27:00.01,00:27:02.17
No, you need to have
your original birth certificate.
#00:27:02.19,00:27:05.15
- You have your birth certificate?
- No, I don't.
#00:27:08.22,00:27:10.19
You have your birth
certificates with you?
#00:27:11.07,00:27:12.22
- Can't we use our ID cards?
- Unfortunately not.
#00:27:13.00,00:27:17.16
-Mohsen, you have your birth certificate?
- Me? No.
#00:27:17.18,00:27:20.12
- We'll go to Tehran, then. Sorry...
- Watch out not to drown!
#00:27:21.00,00:27:23.16
- We're going to Tehran.
- Hold on to the ballot box.
#00:27:23.21,00:27:26.11
We're going to Tehran. Take care.
#00:27:27.01,00:27:29.20
- Bye.
- Bye.
#00:27:30.04,00:27:31.15
Oh, Iran, our treasure land
#00:28:27.06,00:28:31.01
Oh, Iran, our fountain of art
#00:28:31.11,00:28:35.07
May "evil will" never find you
#00:28:35.21,00:28:39.04
May you be strong and eternal
#00:28:39.20,00:28:43.08
No death! Long live he who opposes me.
#00:29:53.04,00:29:58.09
We support a system where people
can change their representatives...
#00:30:50.11,00:30:55.17
...in a maximum of 4 years, should
they not be satisfied with their service.
#00:30:55.22,00:31:01.00
I would like to thank
the people of Tehran and...
#00:31:15.01,00:31:22.18
A writer... has a pen... a mind
#00:34:52.06,00:34:55.16
Today is...
#00:34:58.20,00:35:00.10
Did you vote?
#00:35:01.08,00:35:03.02
Hold on... ballot box...
Watch out not to drown!
#00:35:20.14,00:35:25.01
Walls, walls so tall,
bound my vision in all directions
#00:35:31.22,00:35:36.03
Walls so tall...
Walls reaching the height of despair
#00:35:36.07,00:35:41.00
Are joy, the joyful,
and envy all between each two walls?
#00:35:42.15,00:35:48.17
To have my sight
divided in checkers by bars...
#00:35:50.14,00:35:53.19
...and vision meets walls
in the distant lands of despair.
#00:35:53.21,00:36:00.20
Was that alright?
#00:36:03.18,00:36:05.11
What, you mean you want those on film?
#00:36:08.22,00:36:11.03
Read something else.
#00:36:16.00,00:36:17.18
Some day,
we will once again find our doves...
#00:36:38.11,00:36:43.01
...and kindness
shall take the hand of beauty
#00:36:43.03,00:36:46.15
When a kiss will be the smallest hymn,
and each man a brother for all other
#00:36:48.04,00:36:54.01
When they will no longer
close the doors of their homes
#00:36:54.23,00:36:59.05
And locks won't be but myths,
and locks won't be but myths
#00:36:59.10,00:37:03.04
Our heart will be all we need to live,
that day when every word means love
#00:37:04.00,00:37:10.21
So you don't go after
words to have the last say
#00:37:11.08,00:37:15.14
When each lip is a song,
so the smallest hymn can be a kiss
#00:37:17.08,00:37:21.21
The day when we
once again feed our doves
#00:37:22.12,00:37:27.06
The day when we
once again feed our doves
#00:37:28.03,00:37:32.17
And it is that day, which I long for
#00:37:33.04,00:37:36.16
And I long for that day,
even when I no longer live
#00:37:38.02,00:37:43.23
Even when I no longer live...
#00:37:44.01,00:37:46.18
Even when I live no longer,
live no longer, live no longer...
#00:37:46.21,00:37:51.00
Cast:
Mohsen Makhmalbaf #00:37:54.00,00:38:01.07
Produced by
Kish Tourism Organization, 2000
#00:38:28.21,00:38:33.01
