PERSEPOLIS

Ok, yet another film that was much hyped about. Some of you may have turned up your noses at it because it’s an animation. Others may have thought it an “unorthodox” way of telling a very serious story. I am a great fan of graphic novels and animations and I sincerely think you should try this one out. Marjane Satrapi (the author, narrator and heroine of our story) is a true original, a successful artist and has a story worth listening to. It just happens to also be the story of one of the greatest political upheavals in modern history.
Marjane was born in Tehran in 1969, and was the child of a liberal family. Her Uncle was in prison for actions concerning his communist ideology, Marjana competes with other children as to whose relatives have been in prison longer, they harass the child of an unpopular government official, in short she has a normal albeit slightly politicized childhood. She is 10 and slightly too young to understand what exactly has happened when the Islamic Fundamentalists win the elections in 1979. Soon the strict laws we are all familiar with from afar are in place. Marjane however burns with the need to express herself and undergoes such unorthodox and dangerous activities such as buying Western music on the black market and wearing a denim jacket. Her family finally sees that Marjane will not stop searching for herself and send her to Vienna to study where she can at least do it without getting arrested. And search Marjane will, getting into all manner of dangers and adventures both in Europe and back in Iran.
What I enjoyed the most about Marjane Satrapi’s narrative is the fact that she never once loses her sense of humor. This of course is partly thanks to the medium she has chosen – animation always gives one the opportunity to “bend” reality slightly and insert emotions into events. But one cannot help noticing how much of an original Marjane truly is. Her narrative is honest and open, cuts no corners and sugars no pills. And if you think her tales in Europe are any less fascinating than those in Iran – think again! It is a voyage of self discovery and adventure – and then momentary adaptation when she heads back to Iran for a couple of years! I always find personal stories set against great events truly fascinating. Because the greater the event grows so big, the greater number very important details are swept away. Personal stories like this give us perspective. And sincere accounts like this one give us a good perspective on how it was like to really be there, growing up and coming of age in a dramatically changing Iran…