Animated reality

An innovative gift to film from France, “Persepolis” is unique in its elements. Animated as an adaptation of a graphic-novel series, the film represents a cultural account of conformity, oppressive government and war in the city of Tehran from the perspective of Marjane Satrapi, co-director of the film and writer of the graphic novels.
In Iran, for the first nine years of her life, little Marji and her parents and grandmother are happy. Then her world as she knows it implodes. The Shah is overthrown and replaced by an oppressive government. Daily warfare ensues, rebels are imprisoned and killed before her eyes, and women are forced to cover their heads and are no longer allowed to wear makeup. Fearing for her safety, Marji’s parents move her to Vienna, Austria, which spurs a series of relocations that accompany the typical adolescent hardships surrounding friendship, love and family loyalty.
As a character, Marji becomes more lifelike than a live-action actor could be. She is inquisitive and demanding during preadolescence, defiant and confused during adolescence and, beneath it all, yearns to be a wise prophet. As she cultivates her instinct to dissent through questioning authority, displaying punk symbols and listening to Iron Maiden, it is difficult not to empathize with her.
Although the story depicts Marji’s adaptation to harsh life in Iran, the film’s universal themes make us feel as though she could just as easily be from America. In this sense, the film makes the world that much smaller.
Satrapi was originally approached about making a live-action film based on her novels with Brad Pitt and Jennifer Lopez as the parents. Fortunately she refused and deferred to the artistic input of co-director Vincent Paronnaud. The graphic animation works so well for the tone of the story and allows for bits of humor amidst the devastation that engulfs Iran. There is starkness to the black-and-white shades of Marji’s flashbacks, which contrasts well with the few moments of color.
Nominated for an Oscar for Animated Feature Film, “Persepolis” has already won the jury prize at the Cannes Film Festival, and deservedly so. Never before has an animated film been so realistic and important.