Persepolis is the Oscar nominated biography of Marjane Satrapi which begins when she is a girl who growing up in Iran in the 1970's revolution. She lives with an idealistic family who send her away to Austria so she can live without the restrictions of the new regime. In Austria she learns to be free but she is ultimately unhappy so when she returns home she realises the changes that have befallen Iran and the increasing restrictions on women.
The film is animated, stark black with clean white and its very, very effective. I had worried that the stripped down animation would be unable to convey emotions or feelings but I was wrong. There is something in the basic colours that mean you have to focus on Marjane without any distractions. It does not only good looking it's a good story too, the encroaching restrictions of the regime are dealt with without sensation and that gives it all the more weight. You also feel the intensity of Marjane's character she is constantly a fish out of water – her quest to fit in and be accepted is a constant theme in the film, as is her dry humour which is no small feat for a few black lines.
A good film, a moving story based in recent history it also has a great strong look to match the strength of the characters in the film.
Directed by Vincent Paronnaud & Marjane Satrapi
Cast (voice only)
Chiara Mastroianni – Marjane 'Marji' Satrapi
Cathering Deneuve – Mrs Satrapi (Marjane's mother)
Danielle Darrieux – Marjane's grandmother
Simon Abkarian – Mr Satrapi (Marjane's father)
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