Persepolis film review

The film opens with an irritated 24 year old Marjane, voice leant by Chiara Mastroimanni, unable to board a plane home to Tehran, for reasons unknown to us. She is engulfed by smoke as she puffs away on a cigarette when we are swiftly transported into her childhood. Transmitted to an age when she was continuously confronted by God as she believed herself to be one of his personally appointed prophets. As war breaks out between Iran and Iraq, Marji is exposed to cruelty and suffering under the ruling of Islamic fundamentalists, the Shah. Head strong Marjane, refuses to stay out of trouble by openly rejecting authoritative view on the ill-treatment by the government. As a result of her rebellion Marjane is sent to Vienna, Austria where she can freely express herself without serioius consequences. In Europe, Marji meets an vast array of unforgettable personalities, whom, introduce her to the experiences the western world has to offer. After spending a considerable amount of time in foreign territory, she craves to return back to her homeland. Finally, this desire is fulfilled as a young women, however, only to realize that changes in both herself and Tehran are magnified beyond her imagination.

Both directed and written by Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi, ‘Persepolis’ is a mature animation depicting the present in colour and the past in black and white and is accompanied by a soundtrack of serene yet melancholic music. Paronnauds simply designed scenarios portray the minimalistic yet fulfilling lives Iranians lead, even in times of economic and political struggle. Persepolis has been critically acclaimed by Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, Empire magazine and the Times magazine as both horrifying and vivacious. Persepolis is influential and inspiring as well as educational, this must see a film is filled with strong political themes which has stirred controversy in across the Middle  and Far East. Many governments have unsuccessfully attempted to censor it from the public which only gives us one more reason to watch this eye-opening film.