"Persepolis" *** 1\2 (out of ****)"Persepolis" is the animated film for anyone who has ever gone through culture shock or has just never fitted in. It is the story of an outsider trying to make sense of the world while retaining a portion of who she is and never forgetting her roots.
The film deals with the Iranian Revolution of 1979 when the Shah was taken out of power and Islamic fundamentalist were put it. Pretty big subject for an animated film, wouldn't you say? Yet Marjane Satrapi's comic book novel and her film deal with this material in a refreshing, adult manner. Just because the film is animated does not mean is it for children. Children in fact may not even understand half of what is going on in this film.
Our hero is Majane (voiced by Chiara Mastroianni) a 6 year old girl, whose parents (voiced by Catherine Deneuve, Mastroianni's real life mother, and Simon Abkarian) are well to do leftist. They are against the Shah and teach their daughter the truth about after young Marjane declares he was put into power by God, whom the young girl has regular bedtime conversations with. Her family is happy to see a revolution take place but are unhappy when the fundamentalist gain control. In many ways they feel Iran has gotten worst. Fearing for their daughter the parents decide they may have to send Marjane away. And they do. Marjane goes to France and to Austria.
Life is different for the Marjane, who along with her friends, dream about what Western culture must be like. She and her friends would listen to punk music and attempt to pick up Western habits. In Austria and France Marjane is an outsider. No one can relate to her and initially are only interested in her stories, not necessarily her. At one point Marjane narrates "I was a stranger in Austria and now I'm one in my own country."
After spending years away from home Marjane decides she wants to return home and when she does she finds she no longer fits in at home either. She has been exposed to Western culture so long she no longer feels at home anywhere she is.
When in France at a party a young boy asks her what her nationality is, afraid to say Iranian, because of the image it might create in people's mind, she says she's French. She views this as a betrayal of her people and where she has come from.
Much of "Persepolis" deals with Marjane trying to come to terms with her identity. For the most part I think it does a fairly good job showing the complexity of east versus west. To physically be in one place yet have your heart in another. Though not everyone likes this film.
In "Cineaste" magazine a review was written by Rahul Hamid who was "greatly disappointed" watching the film. He goes on to write "the plot of the novels is squeezed into the hour-and-a-half running time of the film, removing many of the vivid characters and ideas." He goes on to add "the consequence is that the film presents a more cliches and predictable perspective on the events portrayed." Despite how I may feel about the film I can understand these remarks because I felt the same way watching this film.
"Persepolis" is not a long film and because of that is does brush over many aspects of Marjane's life and desires as well as historical events. There is actually something to be learned while watching this film as I, for one, knew little about Iran's, or for that matter, the middle east in general's history. "Persepolis" does seem to rush through her love life and her middle ages. As for historical information on Iran, we must please try to remember this is a film. I tend to give movies some slack when they play fast and loose with historical facts. I'm not watching a history lesson on screen, I'm watching entertainment. There is a time and place for everything.
Still, there are those you liked "Persepolis". I tend to think A.O. Scott, critic for the New York Times made some good points. "If "Persepolis" had been a conventional memoir rather than a graphic novel, Ms. Satrapi's account of her youth in pre - and post-revolutionary Iran would not have been quite as moving or as marvelous. Similarly, if the movie version had been conventionally cast and acted, it would inevitably have seemed less magical as well as less real."
My feelings are somewhere in the middle between these two thoughts. I can see the faults with the film as we s the elements worth praising. In the end I feel there is more to praise than condemn. Hopefully you'll agree.
"Persepolis" was nominated for a palme d'or at the Cannes Film Festival, an Oscar for best animated film and a Golden Globe for best foreign language film. "Persepolis" was even France's official Oscar entry for foreign language film but did not make it to the second round. So an animated nomination was given where it lost to Disney's "Ratatouille".
Posts
