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Persepolis (2007)
Heart wrenching tale succeeds through black and white surreal animation
*Contains semi-spoilers: Summarizes part of the plot*
Based on Marjane Satrapi's graphic novel of the same name, "Persepolis" is an animated autobiographical film that tells the story of a young Marjane growing up during the turmoil of the Iranian Revolutionary War in the early '80's and '90s. The animation is mostly in black and white, and uses abstract drawings and surreal imagery throughout. The film is in French with English subtitles.
The story begins with a young nine-year old Marjane. She is precocious and outspoken yet does not realize the reality of the Iran/Iraq conflict taking place outside her bedroom window. The Iran we see is the Iran viewed through naïve eyes we witness Marjane's love for fashion and punk music, we see she and her friends teasing boys on the playground, and we view her playing in the snow in the winter. These images are beautiful and filled with sentimentality. Then, her world changes when her beloved uncle is executed and Iraqi bombs destroy her neighborhood. As the conflict in Iran begins to show its gravity, she becomes more aware of the importance of pride for her homeland. As she gets older, her parents worry about her outspokenness, as she protests the war in school and in other public places. During this time, any person caught denying the Iranian government, and any woman not wearing her veil, could be executed. When she is fourteen, her parents decide to protect her by sending her to a French school in Austria where she can receive a proper education free of oppression. She must endure the typical ordeals of a teenager, but must do so alone in a strange land. After a few years, she becomes too homesick and returns to Iran, where her friends and family have noticed an obvious change in her.
Although heart wrenching and sad, "Persepolis" succeeds because the audience can detach themselves to a certain extent knowing they are watching a cartoon, even if it's based on Satrapi's true story; the graphics are abstract enough that the audience can relate to them and still be able to get through her painful tale of war, death, destruction, and heartbreak. Running at just 95 minutes, each scene leaves a whirlwind of emotions and then ends without really clearing up any conflicts. We know Satrapi prevails because we know she has created this film, but we do not know how she got to where she is today; we have to just trust her strong-willed, empowering character present through every stage of her life in the film and believe that she can overcome any barrier in her way.
Although the narrator in the film tells the story through a series of flashbacks, it's easy to follow. What was more difficult, however, was understanding exactly what was happening in Iran as the film progressed. I suggest "googling" the Iranian Revolutionary War before seeing this film, because it was a complicated time that lasted nearly seven years and is more relevant today than it has ever been before.
"Persepolis" is moving, thoughtful, and painful throughout. I caught myself tearing up during the majority of the movie. Up for an Oscar for best-animated film, it might just give Disney's "Ratatouille" a run for its money.