Persepolis

Persepolis. (2007). Sony Pictures.
ASIN: B000YAA68W
96 min
Format: DVD
Genre: Autobiography
Classification: Drama
Age level: Rated PG-13

Reader's annotation
Persepolis is an animated film based on the graphic novel written by Marjane Satrapi about her childhood in Iran during the Islamic Revolution and her adolescence spent away from her family attending school in Paris. The dramatic changes that they witness in their culture takes a difficult toll on the family, even as they support each other and try to move forward with life.

Summary
This black and white animated film is based on the graphic novels by Iranian author Marjane Satrapi entitled Persepolis and Persepolis II. The work is based on her childhood in Iran during the Islamic revolution in the 1970’s. The story is filled with drama and suspense and Marjane and her family endure seeing changes in the country they love as it becomes more and more repressive. A favorite uncle is executed, and the government places strict restrictions on their dress and activitites. Marjane, as voiced by Chiara Mastroianni, is spirited, smart and rebellious, lending the story much humanity and even some comic relief. Eventually, Marjane’s family decides it would be safer for her to continue her studies in Paris away from the family, launching her into a period of dislocation and depression. She later returns to her to Tehran as an adult, but much changed. In the tradition of Maus, these engaging black and white drawings make the impossible bearable enough to tell us a fascinating story of hardship and endurance. The film includes the voices of actors Chiara Mastroianni, Catherine Deneuve, Gena Rowlands, Danielle Darrieux, and Simon Abkarian. It was directed and written by Marjane Satrapi, and Vincent Paronnaud. The film is in French.

Notes
Persepolis is a tense film about revolution, conflict and exile that also contains some light moments of humanity, hope and comic relief.

Awards and honors
Independent Spirit Awards: Best Foreign Film nominee, 2008
BAFTA: Best Foreign Language Film nominee, 2009
Golden Globe Awards: Best Foreign Language Film nominee, 2008
Oscar nominee for Best Animated Feature Film, 2008

Persepolis Graphic Novel Series
Persepolis (2003)
Persepolis 2 (2004)