Persepolis

PG-13

2/22/20081h 35m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ The film Iran didn't want the world to see. ~

Overview:

In 1970s Iran, Marjane 'Marji' Satrapi watches events through her young eyes and her idealistic family of a long dream being fulfilled of the hated Shah's defeat in the Iranian Revolution of 1979. However as Marji grows up, she witnesses first hand how the new Iran, now ruled by Islamic fundamentalists, has become a repressive tyranny on its own.

Director:

Vincent Paronnaud

Status:

Released

Language:

French

Buget:

$7,300,000.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Key words:

puberty
civil war
parent child relationship
1970s
totalitarian regime
punk rock
bomb alarm
coming of age
orient
adult animation
punk band
woman director
iranian revolution
pathetic

Cast

Chiara Mastroianni

~ as ~

Marjane (voice)

Danielle Darrieux

~ as ~

Marjane's Grandmother (voice)

Catherine Deneuve

~ as ~

Marjane's Mother (voice)

Simon Abkarian

~ as ~

Marjane's Father (voice)

Gabrielle Lopes Benites

~ as ~

Young Marjane (voice)

François Jérosme

~ as ~

Uncle Anouche (voice)

Tilly Mandelbrot

~ as ~

Lali (voice)

Sophie Arthuys

~ as ~

Walla (voice)

Arié Elmaleh

~ as ~

Walla (voice)

Mathias Mlekuz

~ as ~

Walla (voice)

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

CinemaSerf
Written 2 year(s) ago
7
"Marji" is a young girl growing up in Iran just as the imperial Pahlavi regime is toppled and the birth of the Islamic republic proclaimed. Optimism is the order of the day, with everyone hoping the new government will represent new freedoms and liberties for all. Ha! Fat chance, as they say, and things start to become a bit dangerous for this honest and outspoken girl. To avert a familial disaster, her parents manage to get her studying in Vienna, but once there she finds herself immersed in a culture that is alien to her and one that doesn't live up to her (rather naive) expectations. Now she is truly rudderless - where does she belong? Where can she belong? The animation here is quite effective. It's basic, monochrome and at times it's slightly stop-motion style illustrates well the changing politics at home and her own attitudes as she matures and becomes less and less settled. It does cram a great deal in. We move through the decades at breakneck speed which at times disappoints. There are times when I would have liked to linger a bit longer with some aspects of her development, but it's still a lively and thought-provoking watch for much of the time and is well worth a watch.