Persepolis
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Movie Reviews of Persepolis
Movie Review: a classic in its own rights and domain
Summary: 5 Stars
I do not believe I have ever seen such a deep and touching animation movie - this is an absolute wonder and it treads in a domain which is difficult to explain and hard to understand - Iran (not Arab), Europe, the culture, the cultural classes, religion, politics - can it be any more complicated - but Vincent Paronnaud, Marjane Satrapi have been able to simplify all these complex issues into a simple story as seen through the eyes of the protagonist Marjane Satrapi. I feel very strongly about this probably because I have gone through many similar experiences (with different background) so when I was watching the movie , the truth in it almost made me cry.
We are used an Iran depicted by CNN and George Bush Administration but this is a very narrow and politicized view of Iran - Persia as a country has an enormous cultural roots and strong social fabric which the islamic rulers cannot destroy so easily and we also forget to realize that Islam (speacially the persian version) was not aggressive or brutal infact they gave us Rumi. Thye movie shows an amazing transformation of Iran through the last century - this transformation has never been produced so lucidly anywhere. It also shows that the subcultural of this liberal front in Iran has not died (not yet) and it still can germinate back again. The protagonist see the revolution (where Shah is removed), the war with Iraq - see gets support from her liberal grandma who represents the subculture of liberalism which never died. This movie probably shows the biggest difference between Iran and Arab nations (like Saudi) - most of the time we lump Iran in the same category with Arab nations but Persia was completely a different world.
Then when the protagonist moves to Europe for her studies - she faces the challenges of cultural differences and her inner battle of identity crisis - this depiction is poetic it is almost like somebody is reading from Albert Camus - sometimes the inner demons wins but finally she overcomes the hurdles and moves forward - the movie ends with an ray of hope - it shows that Iran can get back its own identity which is different from the Islamic identity.
Finally it brings out a potrait of the women of Iran - they can fight their own battle and do not need western sympathy - they understand their plight and they are involved in a struggle to change it - hope they can change - I have decided to buy this DVD
Movie Review: a life lived under the thumb of oppression
Summary: 5 Stars
The choice of "drawing" the movie in black and white artwork was a inspired choice as its themes are hardly black and white. There's good and bad but mostly bad created by those in power be it during the times of the Shah or the mullahs in Iran. The look of the movie is very graphic novel which makes sense because it comes from the same. It does have some genuinely scary, poignant, touching and funny scenes. The filmmaker is a true talented individual.
It also helps that she is speaking from the heart as it is her story of her childhood through early 20s trying to figure out her own self but being driven down an almost suicidal hole by the grind that is modern Iran.
Some interesting asides: The fact that Iron Maiden may be considered "punk" and/or revolutionary let alone the lame sounds of Michael Jackson or ABBA just shows you how freaked out and paranoid the religious leaders are in Iran. Imagine their reaction if they found Iran's youth secretly listening to the Sex Pistols, Clash or any other classic punk.
The flip from black-and-white to color when the movie shows scenes in Paris is all that's needed to show how the West, for all its faults, is a place where people can be free from this sort of horrible repression they find in nations like modern Iran.
The extras are almost as good as the movie.
The Hidden Side is way too long at over 30 minutes.
Behind-the-Scenes has Marjane Satrapi (co-director and the person whom is the central character of the movie) and is in English. You get Iggy Pop (voice actor in the English version of the movie) popping up, too!
Cannes Press Conference Q&A has Catherine Denevue whose voice I did not recognize in the movie but she played the grandma.
Selected Scene Commentaries are fun but the piece de resistance is the Animated Scene Comparisons. It's fun to see what was cut out and learn why as well as see some of the rough-cut animation in action.
Movie Review: Significant
Summary: 5 Stars
plot: Marjane Satrapi grows up during the rise of the fundamentalist regime in Iran.
animation: Lovely deco art style, it reminded me of Edward Gorey in some ways, and propaganda posters in other ways.
languages: french and english.
This film has a wonderful sense of reverence for family history, and at the same time a wonderful sense of irreverence for the local political ideologies which grip Iranian culture today. If you don't know what happened to women's rights when the Fundamentalist's rose to power in Iran, this film explains these things with simple, tough charm. It's important that this film even exists, imo. I think everyone should see it, whether they like it or not- it will give you alot to think about and hopefully, talk about.
*spoiler*
If I have one problem with this film, it's that as the main character grows older and more disenchanted (while trying even harder to fit in) with the intolerance towards women in her society, the story turns to several pointless romances. After an hour and a half of feeling like a witness (thru Marjane's recollections) to an avalanche of personal tragedy and the humor that comes with surviving it, we jarringly go into a weird romantic interlude, where Marjane has a string of crappy relationships, gets married, gets divorced, leaves Iran yet again (and presumably for good) at which point the film ends.
Kindof like someone pulling the needle across the vinyl before a good song ends, and I understand she's making a political statement about how she feels; that there's nothing she has left but the memories of her family, uncle and grandmother... its just that the romantic interlude cheapened the power of it.
For this viewer.
Still a damn important cultural document, though. See it.
Movie Review: Fear lulls our minds to sleep.
Summary: 5 Stars
When the story begins Marjane is ten year old. Just when the Shah is defeated and it seems some freedom may be restored to Iran a fundamental Islamic group comes to power and dashes all hope. So the viewer learns to navigate such dodgy waters as Marjane does, including what it means to be female under such a smothering regime, how one comes to terms with her own feelings of hatred and frustration, and how to find a way to thrive when everything around you opposes it.
Try as she might, Marjane just can't keep her rebellious self under wraps and her parents feel it's best to send her to Europe to be educated. Meeting a very different kind of adversity there, Marjane comes to see just what freedoms she has missed out on and how western culture doesn't even know how blessed it is. Upon returning to Iran as a young adult Marjane falls into a deep depression, leading to a rocky marriage and sad realization that while she genuinely loves her homeland she knows she will never prosper there.
Based on the autobiographical graphical novel of the same name, Persepolis is brilliantly done. Written and directed by Marjane Satrapi, herself, the coming-of-age story allows us to grow and develop with the young heroine, to feel frankly the hurt of a child's dreams not realized in the adult's life. The stark and contrasting black and white animation is evocative and powerful, no doubt a mirror to having grown up in a place that as much creates open space for growth it also embodies the restricting darkness that inhibits it. All told this film isn't bleak or heavy in political preaching. It gives insightful commentary on how cultural change affects every facet of life and offers inspirational footing for how to greet it with integrity.
Movie Review: An amazing story told in an incredible way
Summary: 5 Stars
What a fascinating and tragic life Marjane Satrapi has lived. Aesthetically, the film follows the style of her graphic novels (which I haven't read), simple and bold. But the way that it communicates the complexities of emotion, character, and history is truly superb and anything but simple.
Satrapi and Parronaud achieve a feat of subtlety in their ability to portray Marjene's youthfulness without watering down the narrative. The viewer can understand the limited perspective of the main character, while following the developments in Iran that the film tries to explore.
The stunning Marjane Satrapi.
Something in the film's tone is refreshingly unapologetic-Satrapi pulls no punches when introducing us to the people that have passed through her life in Iran and Europe. She describes her friends in Austria, for example, as having perfected "forced nihilism," an obvious term of derision that I found hilarious. The heroes in her young life were communists, but they were her loved ones and composed the largest bloc of opposition to both the Shah and the Ayatollah.
The tone of the film could have easily veered toward whiny or preachy because of its subject matter, but never does. Instead, the viewer inevitably compares the struggles of their own life to the incredible hardships Satrapi has suffered. The result may be uncomfortable, but to some like myself, ultimately inspiring; it adds to our appreciation of art that is truly expressive and the tormented souls behind it that we are privileged to encounter every so often. Persepolis serves to remind us that those who create beauty in this world are often the most haunted among us.