Vincent Paronnoud, Marjane Satrapi, Persepolis

by Kathryn Durfee
02/15/2008

Film adaptations of graphic novels have taken many forms in the past few years. Some are grounded in realism, like Sam Mendes' screen version of Collins and Rayners' Road to Perdition. Others are highly-stylized, like Robert Rodriguez's adaptation of Frank Miller's Sin City. Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi's 2007 film Persepolis, which recounts one woman's memories of growing up during the Iranian Revolution, manages to be both, creating an honest tale that unfolds like a delicate French fairy tale.

Persepolis is the sum of Marjane Satrapi's two autobiographical graphic novels, Persepolis I and Persepolis II, which recount her upbringing in Tehran in the 1970s, '80s, and '90s. Nine-year-old Marjane is precocious and outspoken, but is growing up just as the fundamentalists take over in Iran. Thousands are imprisoned and women are forced to cover themselves with veils. Living with her family and community in terror of the government and the war with Iraq, Marjane westernizes herself with punk rock music and American icons. Her parents, fearing for her safety, send her to a French school in Vienna. Here, she struggles to find her place as her peers equate her Iranian heritage with the country's current political situation. She finally starts to fit in in Europe, but finds herself homesick and alone and thus gives up her freedom to return home. But the times have changed Iran, and the country is no longer the home she once knew. She ultimately decides to leave for France, where Satrapi currently resides, and where the film begins - the airport at Orly.

There is a theory commonly applied to anime that describes the power and ability of animation to present audiences with horrific or disturbing images. The idea is that through animation, anything the artist can imagine can be put on the screen. Likewise, the medium distances the audience just enough so that the horrors of war can be shown without deterring the viewer. Persepolis certainly isn't as naturalistic as Barefoot Gen or Grave of the Fireflies, but it by no means fails in representing the effects of the Iranian Revolution on Marjane's family and friends. The silhouettes of fallen citizens and the clouds of smoke that rise from bombed-out buildings say more about the pain felt by the Iranian people than even the best 3D animation could.

Persepolis may appear to be stark; it's true that the film is black, white, and shades of gray with only a few carefully-chosen moments of color. However, the warmth that the simple and welcoming animation style exudes envelops the viewer like an old Peanuts cartoon. Persepolis could have been brought to the screen as a live action film (and Satrapi has said that she was approached with a script that would place Brad Pitt and Jennifer Lopez in the roles of Marjane's parents!), but it would have lost the emotive quality of Satrapi's no-frills style.

Despite it's cartoony visage, Persepolis is a grim tale of oppression and fear. However, the film never slips into melodrama. Instead, it maintains a quick wit and light charm throughout. The character of Marjane's grandmother is an excellent example. She is a steadfast example to Marjane of the importance of recognizing and being loyal to her heritage. She's also a little bit saucy and clearly won't be anyone's fool, showing the audience from where Marjane inherited her headstrong behavior).

Persepolis is a near-perfect film that suffers only from presenting the audience with so many heavy subjects. Having known nothing about Iranian politics going into the film, I still found myself slightly confused upon leaving. I did enjoy the whimsical animated puppet show that illustrated the country's history and the reasons for being at war. Satrapi's tale is enormous and full of heart. Coming of age tales are one thing, and war stories are another, but to execute both to near-perfection is a rare treat.

Though Persepolis was France's official submission to the Oscars, it was not nominated for Best Foreign Film. It will not be forgotten, though: it is among the nominees for Best Animated Picture.

Persepolis is currently showing at Athens Ciné.