Film's that carry such difficult issues as growing up during the islamic revolution of Terhan in the late seventies or even female independence would come as no surprise if they were shot in scope, with a sweeping score by Howard Shore or Alaxander Desplat and given the full on oscar season onslaught.
Persepolis, however, is the unique antithesis to this type of awards season melodrama. It is animated, filled with several tongue in cheek nods the time it's evoking and delivers equal -but not over- doses of humor and sentiment.
Based on the orignal graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi, persepolis is the telling of Marjane's childhood during the deposition of the Shah of Terhan and eventual islamic revolution (a subject similarly depicted in The Kite Runner). As told Marjane starts as a precocious daughter to secular parents, whom could almost be perceived as bourgeois. They enjoy frequent social dinners, imbibe of the occasional alcohol and never particularly care about the political climate. They laugh at their daughter's outbursts and proclamations as a prophet who talks directly to god while entertaining guests. All this changes after the fall of the shah, whose rule seemed tyrannical and harsh but pales in comparison to the imminent islamic revolution that follows. Marjane takes the turning political tide with aplomb as she soon discovers the wonders of western culture. sneaking around police to find a bootleg record, trotting around school teachers with a jacket that has "Punk is not Ded" emblazoned on the back, bearing the scorn for wearing a Michael Jackson button. Marjane never takes the threat of the fundamental reversion too seriously.
That is until The Satrapis comfortable and cushy lives are soon threatened as civil liberties are soon stripped, alcohol is banned, partying is banned and women are forced to cover their whole bodies. They fear for their daughter's safety and soon send her to Vienna to live out from under such harsh conditions. Vulnerable and alone, Marjane experiences her teen years in a country completely foreign to her. She soon finds refuge with a group of punkish types and she falls for one of the leaders of the group. A Boy who's all talk but no heart as he rambles on about revolution this and freedom that and blah blah blah. It's enough to entrance Marjane into a love that leaves her jaded and lost. How far she's departed from her idealistic childhood. After a traumatic breakup, months living homeless and hungry, Marjane eventually returns home to a drastically different Terhan. Buildings are now reduced to rubble after constant bombings. Thousands dead, even more imprisoned as the fundamentalists tighten their grip over the people. Her parents more fearful than before. It is an enviornment filled with fear and death, not even a shell of its former glory. Marjane attempts to blend in, going to school, finding new friends, even marrying. But she soon finds that even home isn't home anymore. That as much as she's iranian, she can't live in a place so diametrically opposed to her fundamental ideals. And she leaves once and for all. Returning only to visit her parents, her grandmother and friends. Putting on the veil forced upon all women who live in Terhan and forcing her own beliefs aside.
Persepolis is filled with wonderful animation that bears a hand-drawn quality that will please any enthusiast of traditional animation. Throughout the film's deeply serious content it feels as though we are literally watching the artist draw along to Marjane's storytelling. It's beautiful and engaging and a wonderful change of scenery compared to computer animated films of today. It will certainly be an interesting moment on oscar day to see who takes the trophy for best animated film; Ratatoullie or Persepolis, both remarkable and highly enjoyable films.
till next time,
Chaz