Persepolis
Friday, 25 Apr 2008 14:19
Majane's life is transformed by the Islamic revolution
Directed by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud, out now, starring Chiara Mastroianni, Catherine Deneuve, Gena Rowlands and Sean Penn.
In a nutshell...
A beautifully crafted, sympathetically and comically-portrayed account of one of Iran's most tumultuous periods of history.
What's it all about?
Based on the author's true experiences, Persepolis charts the life of Majane, who develops from a strong-headed nine-year-old Iranian girl into a stunning young woman who is torn in heart and spirit over the events that turn her life upside down after the onset of the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
Describing her ambitions as being able to shave her legs and become the last prophet in the galaxy, Marjane's life is simple and happy, as she lives with her warm family under the regime of Mohammad Reza Shah, the last king of Iran.
Her life turns on its head as the revolution breaks out and she is faced with the results of the nationalistic and religious fervour that sweeps the country. The war with Iraq reveals the cracks in the new reactionary regime, which clamps down hard on its subjects, including Marjane, who by this time has discovered Iron Maiden and expresses her rage by headbanging in her room.
The outspoken Marjane is sent to Austria to see out her education and her teenage years, through which she struggles with identity, love and homesickness.
Who's in it?
Chiara Mastroianni provides the voice for Marjane as a young woman, while the younger part was played by Gabrielle Lopes. Mastroianni is a French actress who has appeared in films such as Les chansons d'amour and Hotel and brings life to the abstract form of Marjane, perfectly expressing the teenage angst, the rage and the sorrow experienced by the older Marjane.
Marjane's grandmother is played by Gena Rowlands, a performance that stands out with her husky sultriness that perfectly fits the role of the doting role model. Rowlands, Deveuve and Mastroianni form a wonderful trio of French actresses that portray each female generation with dignity and depth of feeling.
As an example...
This film is full of endearingly hilarious moments. One of the best is the puberty scene, when Marjane turns into a woman before your eyes. Describing it as a time of ugliness, her chin grows large, her right hand grows heavy and her breasts develop so fast that she is toppled over - all with beautiful, if not amusing results.
Likelihood of a trip to the Oscars
This film has been released at a time when the relationship between Iran and the West is fraught, meaning that this film will surely receive a lot of attention and justly so. Persepolis poignantly highlights the damage the battle between the two cultures can cause and should therefore be viewed as an educational piece as well as entertainment.
Its nominated in the best animated feature film category for this year's Oscars show the esteem in which it is held.
What the others say
"Persepolis gives us the sheer pleasure of narrative, rarely found in modern cinema or indeed fiction: a gripping story of what it is like to grow from a lonely imaginative child into an adult, and to find this internal tumult matched by geo-political upheaval." - Guardian.
So is it any good?
Persepolis is a tour de force. The black and white abstract drawings work so well to portray the events of the Islamic Revolution, the war with Iraq and the exploits of a young girl.
Charcoal greys and blacks, as well as stark imagery and stylistic eastern swirls perfectly depict the grim poignancy of the events, while the simplistic images manage to convey a depth of feeling, often of multifaceted emotions, that is rarely seen in today's animated cinema.
But the film is far more than an aesthetic delight. The audience is transferred into the complex history of one of the world's most fascinating countries. The clash between Iranian and western culture, tradition and modernity, is manifested in the young girl, who is torn between her love for Bruce Lee and US trash culture and the jasmine-scented memories of her homeland.
Events are accurately depicted, with issues such as the veil are handled sensitively, sympathetically and often comically. The pain of growing up is expressed in the same way, making Marjane an engaging and loveable character. She is testament to the strength of Iranian women and her constant questioning of the regimes in Iran and Europe and her constant fight to express herself in both is an inspiration.
In all, the film is a must-see. Funny, heart-breaking; joyous and tragic, Persepolis is a story of strength, resilience and hope.
10/10
Zephie Begolo
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