|
|
|
Persepolis
(2007)
 
Don't be fooled by the film's simple-looking
black-and-white, hand-drawn animation; Persepolis not
only deals with complex and mature issues but contains many
elements of extreme beauty.
In an age of digitally created talking animals, cars and robots,
this return to an older style of animation is not only a refreshing
break but an incredibly effective means of telling an important
and moving coming of age story.
Based on the popular French graphic novels by Iranian immigrant
Marjane Satrapi, Persepolis tells
the autobiographical tale of a young woman's struggle to find
her place in the world amid political revolution, an oppressive
dictatorship and her outsider status in Europe. Marjane
(voiced by Chiara Mastroianni and Gabrielle Lopes) grows significantly
throughout the film, and the format never strays too far from
established conventions for this type of story, yet manages to
make some fairly poignant political and social statements without
ever resorting to heavy-handedness.
Have to admit that I have something of a crush on the character
of Marjane. She
is the ideal strong woman and her independent spirit represents
a humanity far beyond her animated limitations. As
with any autobiographical work of fiction, it's unclear to me
how much of her character was invented and how much is based on the author (and in this case co-director), but the verisimilitude of her character is undeniable and it's hard to imagine anyone watching the film and not relating to the young woman.
While the film is often quite humorous and uplifting, it doesn't
shy away from the headier and more emotional topics one would
expect from any other film set in a volatile nation like Iran
in the 1970's and 80's. Marjan's sadness at leaving her nation
and family behind and the necessity for her to do so are both
palpable throughout the film, and the impact of the Iranian Revolution
and subsequent war with Iraq and Islamist rule come through with
glaring clarity. It's easy these days to vilify an oppressive
nation like Iran (especially when it is so frequently portrayed
negatively in the mainstream American news media), but films
like Persepolis shed light on the depth and complexity
of the political situation, history and people of the nation
and humanize what could otherwise be just another faceless Middle-Eastern
nation to most Americans.
Persepolis is more than just the best animated film
of 2007; it's a cinematic accomplishment that transcends its
format. Rarely does a film slip past my emotional defenses
with humor and tap into my emotions and humanity as successfully
as this little French gem has done. There's no obvious
message to the film to get in the way of the heart at the center
of Persepolis and that simplicity and subtlety is its
greatest strength.
-Mark
Moreland
|
|
|
|
All contents ©
2004-2009 Thoughtsonfilm.com |
|
|
 |
Director:
Marjane
Satrapi & Vincent Paronnaud
Writer: Marjane
Satrapi, Vincent Paronnaud
Starring: Chiara
Mastroianni, Catherine
Deneuve, Danielle Darrieux, Simon Abkarian, Gabrielle Lopes, François
Jerosme
Distributor: Sony
Pictures Classics
Runtime: 95
min
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: December
25, 2007
|
|
 |
|
