Saturday, January 12, 2008

Film Review: Persepolis

Eric Green

Persepolis
A film by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud


Once in a while a small film captures the imagination of all people of all ages. This is such a film.

Based on a book by Marjane Satrapi, a book made up of cartoons, this film does not stray far from its origins. Reason: Satrapi co-directed and co-wrote the screenplay for the film with Vincent Paronnaud. Paronnaud is a well-known French comic artist. The film's main language is French. There are English subtitles. They use the voices of Catherine Deneuve and Chiara Matroianni, both great choices.

This autobiographical comic strip film focuses on her reminisces of the Iran, going from the King's period, the period of the Shah of Iran; the Iranian Revolution; and then the ascendancy of the clerics; up to the current period.

What would be a complicated and difficult history to follow, especially for people in the United States who have been fed a series of half-truths and many lies about Iran, this book cuts through it all. This makes it a film that parents should take their teenagers to see.

Satrapi doesn't pull any political punches. She talks, describes that is, the strong role of the communists and the revolutionary period. Reviews of the book and film refer to the "left" for some reason fearing to even use the correct word, "communists."

Fortunately, the film is gaining some good support from film distributors. This is essential for a small film like this to get around.

Visit your local film venue to request that they book this film.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I saw it and I thought that it was a very funny and educational movie.