Persepolis
Persepolis is the poignant story of a young girl coming-of-age in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. It is through the eyes of precocious and outspoken nine-year-old Marjane that we see a people's hopes dashed as fundamentalists take power - forcing the veil on women and imprisoning thousands. Clever and fearless, she outsmarts the "social guardians" and discovers punk, ABBA and Iron Maiden. Yet when her uncle is senselessly executed and as bombs fall around Tehran in the Iran/Iraq war the daily fear that permeates life in Iran is palpable. As she gets older, Marjane's boldness causes her parents to worry over her continued safety. And so, at age fourteen, they make the difficult decision to send her to school in Austria. Vulnerable and alone in a strange land, she endures the typical ordeals of a teenager. In addition, Marjane has to combat being equated with the religious fundamentalism and extremism she fled her country to escape. Over time, she gains acceptance, and even experiences love, but after high school she finds herself alone and horribly homesick. Though it means putting on the veil and living in a tyrannical society, Marjane decides to return to Iran to be close to her family. After a difficult period of adjustment, she enters art school and marries, all the while continuing to speak out against the hypocrisy she witnesses. At age 24, she realizes that while she is deeply Iranian, she cannot live in Iran. She then makes the heartbreaking decision to leave her homeland for France, optimistic about her future, shaped indelibly by her past.
Member Reviews
Intéressante chronique - Tigidou
Cet intéressant récit se déroulant sur 20 ans vaut définitivement la peine d'être vu. Comme le personnage principal est une femme, je crois que ça plaira davantage aux dames. Ce qui m'a moins plu est tout le côté sombre mais je comprends très bien que ça fait partie intégrante des côtés obscures de cette triste histoire. C'est comme American Pop mais pas à propos de la musique.Hand-drawn animation at its most intimate - AVreviews
While lacking an action-filled narrative common in some many animated films these days, this coming-of-age tale that takes place in Iran during the Islamic Revolution takes its time with all the characters. The painstakingly hand-drawn style lends rich character to the images and events, bringing the surreal and horrible alive on screen. It's highly recommended, but don't think it's like a Disney flick. Far from it.
We follows the life of Marjane, who starts off as a precocious nine-year-old girl and turns into an opinionated and often troubled woman. The Zip.ca movie description pretty much reveals the entire plot, so avoid that if at all possible. It's a tale that is as relevant today as it was when it first took place.essential, timely - fennel
A keenly subjective glimpse into the experiences of a young Iranian girl during and after the Iranian revolution, Persepolis is a necessary response to the current oversimplified rhetoric concerning the Middle East. It is also the best adaptation of a graphic novel to film that I've ever seen. Beautiful to look at, cleverly crafted in its writing and visuals.
Marjane Satrapi spoke her truth bravely in the graphic novel with an open-hearted charm, and the film version carries this spirit powerfully. Marjane expresses some very difficult and politically charged concepts with the naive clarity and simplicity of a child, giving us access to the actual experience of a young person who was caught up in the events. To me, this is as equally valuable as an "objective" "historical" account, capturing aspects that are important but usually overlooked as inconsequential. The actual impact of such political and religious turmoil can only be meaningfully measured by the impact on individuals, and Marjane opens a window into the experiences of herself, her family, and others who lived through the 1980s in Iran.
Animation is used in simple yet innovative ways to develop the depth of experience, without getting in the way of the very personal narrative.
Persepolis won the Jury Prize and was nominated for Palm D'Or at Cannes in 2007, and has been nominated for the Best Animated Film Oscar for 2008.
When I finished reading the graphic novel, I was overwhelmed with gratitude toward Marjane, for allowing me to witness her experience in such an honest and courageous way. I felt the same again after watching the film.
Member Reviews
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Intéressante chronique - Tigidou
Cet intéressant récit se déroulant sur 20 ans vaut définitivement la peine d'être vu. Comme le personnage principal est une femme, je crois que ça plaira davantage aux dames. Ce qui m'a moins plu est tout le côté sombre mais je comprends très bien que ça fait ...Hand-drawn animation at its most intimate - AVreviews
While lacking an action-filled narrative common in some many animated films these days, this coming-of-age tale that takes place in Iran during the Islamic Revolution takes its time with all the characters. The painstakingly hand-drawn style lends rich character ...essential, timely - fennel
A keenly subjective glimpse into the experiences of a young Iranian girl during and after the Iranian revolution, Persepolis is a necessary response to the current oversimplified rhetoric concerning the Middle East. It is also the best adaptation of a graphic ...