BASED
UPON THE GRAPHIC NOVELS "PERSEPOLIS" AND "PERSEPOLIS
2" WRITTEN BY MARJANE SATRAPI
SCREENPLAY
BY VINCENT PARONNAUD & MARJANE SATRAPI
PRODUCED
BY MARISA MUSY
DIRECTED
BY VINCENT PARONNAUD & MARJANE SATRAPI
GENRE:BIOGRAPHY/COMEDY/DRAMA/HISTORY
RATED:AUSTRALIA:M/UK:12A/USA:PG-13
RUNNING
TIME:95 MIN
Persepolis
is an engrossing and thought provoking animation film based upon a
series of graphic novels by Marjane Satrapi, whose extraordinary life
amidst the backdrop of the Iranian revolution serves as the basis
for the comic book and its big screen adaptation.
The film begins with Marjane as an impressionable young girl raised
by a loving family with Communist leanings in the Iranian capital
of Teheran. Her child hood fantasy to become of prophet is derailed
when she rejects her faith after her country undergoes a cultural
revolution and over throws one heavy handed government only to replace
it for another, only this time it is a government bent on oppression
and tyranny through religious extremism as opposed to monarch rule.
In her adolescence she develops a rebellious streak which causes her
to become hounded by the authorities her do not approve of her unorthodox
dress sense and taste in music. Knowing full well her attitude could
get her thrown in jail (or even killed), Marjane's parents send her
to Vienna where she becomes a young woman and lashes out towards authority
at every turn. This leads to her become homeless, depressed, and finally
on a plane back to Iran where she learns to accept her heritage as
an Iranian and forge an identity as a feminist in a male dominated
country.
Through bitter experience, Satrapi takes hardline political and ideological
stances which are preached in her work: this is one of the most pro-Communist
films I have seen since Warren Beatty's 1981 classic Reds,
and also (or as a result) it is one of the most anti-religious I have
seen in some time as well.
Although death haunts every frame in Persepolis, there is a biting
humour which is infectious and heartfelt warmth which is felt with
her family, especially her influential grandmother (voiced well by
Danielle Darrieux).
And while at a glance its black and white animation may seem simple
in today's Pixar / 3D exuberant world of colour, it is in fact astonishingly
striking and innovative in its approach and - combined with its engrossing
story - makes for gripping and entertaining viewing.
A moving, funny, and original coming of age story, Persepolis
is adult (as in mature, not pornographic) animation entertainment
at its best.
