Persepolis Movie Review (2007)
Working between two different mediums, two different works of art – the graphic novel and film – Marjane Satrapi presents a memoir of her experiences growing up in Tehran during the 1979 Revolution and the Iran/Iraq war that took place between 1980 and 1988.
Directed and written by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud, the film adaptation of the graphic novels Persepolis and Persepolis 2 (published in English in 2003) written by Satrapi, is irreverent and bold. The film has incited controversy with the Iranian government and has been banned in some countries.
The work of Satrapi’s own production company in Paris,the film begets an $8m budget and a team of 100 people, who over the course of two yearsundertook the painstaking rigor that goes along with hand-drawn animation. In the DVD extras, Satrapi explains the process stating that the technique is closer to reality, imperfect just as people are imperfect. She is critical of computer animation for always appearing outdated as time passes.
The mostly black and white animation reflects on the past. The present is represented in color. The distance from reality that animation allows adds lightness for conveying humor and represents the dream-like qualities of memory. The simple style allows a sense of universality, opening a window into a complex culture during a time marked by so much misconception and gross distortion.
Particular influences include the German expressionist films of F.W. Murnau and Fritz Lang, Charles Laughton’s film The Night of the Hunter, Italian neorealism, and of course, Art Spiegleman’s seminal graphic novel Maus. Satrapi’s subsequent autobiographical graphic novels include Embroideries (2003) and Chicken with Plums (2004).
Shrugging off the labels of feminist and political activist, Marjane Satrapi will describe herself as humanist first and foremost. She has stated, “If you look closely at all these conflicts around the world, they come down to poverty and economics and resources. The more poverty, the worse the war. Hunger eats civilization. The West is not hungry; that’s why they can say they’re so civilized. Civilization is the biggest bluff!”
Jennifer Dawson
Grading
- Story A
- Acting A
- Visuals A
- Originality/Innovation A
- Enjoyability A
- Overall A
- DVD Extras A
|
