Review of Persepolis

Animated docudrama

The black-and-white graphics of the animated film "Persepolis" are deceptively simple but that does not diminish the double whammy of an enlightening history lesson of the Iranian Revolution plus a captivating coming-of-age story of a young headstrong girl. Marj is growing up in 1978 Iran living with her liberal family during the fall of the Shah thru the eight-year war with Iraq the following decade. Some of the animated scenes are remarkably poignant. One such scene takes place at Tehran airport when young Bruce Lee-loving Marj leaves Iran for the first time, for a better yet uncertain life abroad. With her parents' approval, they arrange accommodations for her to get away from the bleak life imposed by the repressive new government. She sadly waves at her smiling parents as she boards the plane, glances back a second time in close-up horrified to watch her distraught mother collapse into the arms of her father. This is heartfelt stuff for an animated film. In the new world of Vienna in the 80s, Marj learns about “nonchalance” and “nihilism” from her spoiled European schoolmates. She does find a brief romance though tenderly depicted throwing snowballs at her boyfriend in a city park in front of a statue of Mozart. But she catches him cheating and she is heartbroken. Life turns sour for the displaced teenager in Vienna and she telephones home for permission to return. Her parents agree to her request they “ask no questions.” Life in Iran has deteriorated even more from the destructive war with Iraq. But in a funny sequence, Marj snaps out of a self-imposed depressed funk in her bedroom with a series of drop kicks and judo chops choreographed and singing to British punk band Iron Maiden’s “Number of the Beast.” She socializes and parties with her friends weary of the watchful eye of the government police and is arrested by a patrol car for holding hands in public while driving with her boyfriend. Her parents are forgiving and pay the fine to bail her out. Soon afterwards she leaves Iran again to live in a free society. Departing Tehran airport for Paris her mother tells her, “the Iran of today is not for you.” In the final scene Marj arrives at Orly Airport where her clothing has changed from black-and-white to color.

Posted on 12/30/07 by: buddy 11:53 AM