Persepolis
I can hear it now: “If you see one black-and-white hand-animated film about Iran in the 1980s this year, make it Persepolis!”
What? Too on the nose?
Frankly, there are more than a few elements—key elements—to Persepolis that threaten to make it unpopular with the Friday-night blockbuster crowd. Animated, but made for adults? Check. War in the Middle East? Check. In French, with subtitles? Cheque. Based on a popular graphic novel? Check, check, check, check (one for each volume). It went up against Pixar’s Ratatouille at the Oscars—its opposite in every way, though also a good movie—and lost. So. Are you convinced yet?
The thing is, the mass of complications here doesn’t add up to an obscure or exclusive movie at all. Don’t speak French? If you can read English, you’re fine. Haven’t heard of the Islamic Revolution? You’re in luck; neither has the ten-year-old heroine! Think you’re over animated features? Enjoy the distinctive look of Marjane Satrapi’s art, and go from there. What we have here is a coming-of-age story, something that transcends culture: a girl who covers her hair because she has to, but sneaks downtown to buy Michael Jackson records, a girl who flees her home country because it’s necessary, but finds that political freedom only leaves her lonely. It’s interesting as a historical piece, but mostly it’s funny and sad, artistically fanciful and thematically realistic. It’s sweet and quirky, but never cutesy. In short, it’s a really, really good movie.
Don’t be nervous. Try it! You’ll like it!
February 28th, 2008 at 9:32 am
“Try it. You’ll like it.” Only if it comes with a bowl of Julia Child’s Potage Parmentier.
February 28th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
I’m with ramarks!