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Persepolis
Year: 2007
Directors: Marjane Satrapi, Vincent Paronnaud
Persepolis is a unique and fascinating look on Middle Eastern, and specifically, Iranian, culture in the day and age of strife and violence in that region. We see the young protagonist, none other than an auto-biographical portrayal of the director Marjane herself, grow up in Tehran and live her life, struggles and laughs and all. It's an incredibly touching yet often harsh look at the lives of young people around the world.
Persepolis is based off of a graphic novel, and it is animated in that style. Most of it uses minimalist, 2D, black and white images to portray the stark situation and life of Marjane, or Marji. We get small glimpses of color in important moments, but other than that, this is a strikingly colorless film. It pairs well with the suitably dark story material.
Yup. This one's a real depressor. It won't make you sob like Mary and Max and Up, and it won't leave you feeling bad about yourself and the world like Grave of the Fireflies or Waltz With Bashir. Well... maybe the second one, but not extremely so. The reason it's tough to watch is because we have to see young Marji descend from a strong and passionate girl to a woman who doesn't really know what she's doing in life. The movie asks us what it is that has caused Marji to question her beliefs and identity? Is it the political atmosphere of her childhood? Her family upbringing, involving a communist uncle and slightly loony grandmother? Or is Marji simply carried away by life, unable to make decisions?
Perhaps all of these things. Persepolis profoundly picks apart the details and meaning of the first twenty years of Marji's life. In those years she is many things. Throughout, however, we can tell she has a fierce and strong personality, one of a woman ready to fight for what is right. She often doesn't understand moral choices, however. She often bullies and taunts people who don't agree with her. And many of her opinions are formed based on her own family's teachings. In short, she is a biased, flawed, but ultimately likable character.
This is a slice of life film, at heart, albeit a fast-paced one; they've got to fit in twenty years in an hour or two. It's not easy, but the pacing really works. Marji's life in Vienna is often hesitant, "free" but imprisoned. Her life in Iran almost feels better. She's confined to Islamic laws about women, and doesn't have much freedom, but you can sense she finds her identity there. She relates to her homeland. The end, then, is a triumph for Marji. She did what her grandmother made her promise - she proudly accepted her heritage, and proudly carried it. Earlier in the film she had lied about it.
This movie has a lot of layers. It's hard to pick apart from just one viewing and one review, but I can say this much - I enjoyed it. I'm not sure if it will ever become a huge favorite - it's certainly dark source material that may not be good for second viewings. But it is a unique and in-depth analysis of one women's life and ultimate struggle of identity.
Persepolis
Year: 2007
Directors: Marjane Satrapi, Vincent Paronnaud
Persepolis is a unique and fascinating look on Middle Eastern, and specifically, Iranian, culture in the day and age of strife and violence in that region. We see the young protagonist, none other than an auto-biographical portrayal of the director Marjane herself, grow up in Tehran and live her life, struggles and laughs and all. It's an incredibly touching yet often harsh look at the lives of young people around the world.
Persepolis is based off of a graphic novel, and it is animated in that style. Most of it uses minimalist, 2D, black and white images to portray the stark situation and life of Marjane, or Marji. We get small glimpses of color in important moments, but other than that, this is a strikingly colorless film. It pairs well with the suitably dark story material.
Yup. This one's a real depressor. It won't make you sob like Mary and Max and Up, and it won't leave you feeling bad about yourself and the world like Grave of the Fireflies or Waltz With Bashir. Well... maybe the second one, but not extremely so. The reason it's tough to watch is because we have to see young Marji descend from a strong and passionate girl to a woman who doesn't really know what she's doing in life. The movie asks us what it is that has caused Marji to question her beliefs and identity? Is it the political atmosphere of her childhood? Her family upbringing, involving a communist uncle and slightly loony grandmother? Or is Marji simply carried away by life, unable to make decisions?
Perhaps all of these things. Persepolis profoundly picks apart the details and meaning of the first twenty years of Marji's life. In those years she is many things. Throughout, however, we can tell she has a fierce and strong personality, one of a woman ready to fight for what is right. She often doesn't understand moral choices, however. She often bullies and taunts people who don't agree with her. And many of her opinions are formed based on her own family's teachings. In short, she is a biased, flawed, but ultimately likable character.
This is a slice of life film, at heart, albeit a fast-paced one; they've got to fit in twenty years in an hour or two. It's not easy, but the pacing really works. Marji's life in Vienna is often hesitant, "free" but imprisoned. Her life in Iran almost feels better. She's confined to Islamic laws about women, and doesn't have much freedom, but you can sense she finds her identity there. She relates to her homeland. The end, then, is a triumph for Marji. She did what her grandmother made her promise - she proudly accepted her heritage, and proudly carried it. Earlier in the film she had lied about it.
This movie has a lot of layers. It's hard to pick apart from just one viewing and one review, but I can say this much - I enjoyed it. I'm not sure if it will ever become a huge favorite - it's certainly dark source material that may not be good for second viewings. But it is a unique and in-depth analysis of one women's life and ultimate struggle of identity.